Rethinking international regulatory strategies: the interplay between the electricity sector and the environment in North America

Abstract

Thw world market is highly connected to and dependable on the energy sector on its various forms. Energy has direct effects on businesses and people's life pretty much all over. Curiously, the energy sector is probably one of the exclusive markets where less developed counties may have strong bargaining power in international negotiations, because of the abundance of oil and gas. With the new world organization, where countries around the globe are grouping themselves in economic integration processes that vary from free trade areas to common markets, energy could not be left out, to the point that it could be argued further development of energy trade in the region was the main reason behind NAFTA. The electricity sector is one of the biggest sources of pollution, and both the environment and the human health are the most affected. On the other hand, developing electricity is the cornerstone for economic growth in less developed economies running smoothly. In this context, NAFTA and its Environmental Side Agreement have all the right tools to promote a sucessful regional integration vis-à-vis power sector and the environment.