Salón I-502 | Room I-502 | Salle I-502

Chair:

• Paula Vanessa Sanchez Guzman

SPEAKERS

CARLOS	Atehortua
Francisco-Javier	Albuja-Varela
Katherine	Florez
Leydys Maria	Ospina Medina
Luís A. M.	Meneses Do Vale
LUZ MONICA	HERRERA ZAPATA
María del pilar	García Pachón
Mpho	Moniatse

The provision of essential public utilities such as electricity, water, basic sanitation, and gas constitutes one of the main means of ensuring the fulfillment of the purposes of the Social Rule of Law, such as the protection of fundamental rights, improving the population’s quality of life, and preserving the environment through their delivery. The Constitution thus guarantees access to essential services for all citizens, promoting their coverage, quality, efficiency, and sustainability within the framework of the energy transition and the circular economy.

This workshop will examine the global transformation in the provision of essential public services linked to the satisfaction of basic needs and environmental sustainability from multiple constitutional dimensions, addressing questions such as:

How can universalization and efficiency in the provision of essential public services be ensured in the context of circular-economy models for drinking water and basic sanitation?

What has been the role of constitutionalism in protecting fundamental rights related to the provision of essential public services?

Has sustainability contributed to the universalization of essential public services?

How have constitutional courts contributed to protecting rights associated with the efficient provision of essential public services?

What kind of system should allow for a balance between providing essential public services through nature-based solutions and ensuring the satisfaction of basic needs and universal service coverage?

Have new legal concepts emerged in the provision of essential public services that enable an energy transition while prioritizing energy security?