The global pace of energy transition is too slow. Many governments worldwide have recently adopted fast-track approval procedures for infrastructure and resource projects, such as renewable energy facilities like wind and solar farms, and mining operations for the extraction of critical minerals required for the energy transition. They aim to streamline lengthy permitting procedures. However, it is not clear why and how they emerged, what institutional changes they introduced, and how they impact justice and the environment. Therefore, this pilot study used a comparative case study approach and selected regimes with fast-track procedures through an internet search. We analyze the following cases: The Critical Raw Materials Act (European Union); the Sectoral Authorization Framework Law (Chile); the Fast-Track Approvals Act (New Zealand); the Act on the Development of Marine Renewable Energy Power Generation Facilities (Japan); the One Canadian Economy Act (Canada); and the Solar-Express (Switzerland).
The research questions were:(1) How do social–ecological interactions and problem framing drive regime shifts towards fast-track procedures in infrastructure and resource projects for energy transition?(2) What are the key institutional changes introduced to accelerate procedures?(3) What justice issues arise in the development and adoption of fast-track regulations?(4) What are the (anticipated) impacts of fast-track procedures for justice and the environment on the project level?
Own Publication
Kellner, Elke; Z’Rotz, Jana (2025): Fast-track procedures for infrastructure and resource projects to accelerate energy transition. DOI: .48620/91684.