The growing global demand for energy, as well as the increased sophistication of related technology, has led to an increase in the size and number of natural resource extraction projects worldwide. Energy and resource activities bring benefits for many, but also impose costs on local communities. In recent decades, a new chapter has opened up in energy and resource development and its relationship with the broader community. A range of legal mechanisms and associated agreements has arisen which seek to balance the costs of energy and resources projects, and, in some instances, to enable tangib ... More

The growing global demand for energy, as well as the increased sophistication of related technology, has led to an increase in the size and number of natural resource extraction projects worldwide. Energy and resource activities bring benefits for many, but also impose costs on local communities. In recent decades, a new chapter has opened up in energy and resource development and its relationship with the broader community. A range of legal mechanisms and associated agreements has arisen which seek to balance the costs of energy and resources projects, and, in some instances, to enable tangible benefits for local communities. Indeed, sharing the benefits of natural resource activity has now become a legal requirement for operating in many jurisdictions, particularly in developing countries. This book uses case studies from across the globe to examine the emergence of such legal measures, their advantages and disadvantages, and the improvements that may be feasible in the legal frameworks used to distribute the costs and benefits of energy and resource activity. The book is split into three parts: Part I considers general legal and conceptual frameworks; Part II addresses the mechanisms available to distribute benefits; and Part III considers the role of public engagement and participation in the allocation of costs and benefits of natural resource projects.