A Bridge between the 5<sup>th</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup> Waves of Innovation: Reputational Regulation, the Petroleum Industry and Energy Transition

The objective of this study is to discuss reputational regulation, its key features, its limitations and how it is connected to energy transition, affecting both the Petroleum industry and government behaviors. The article is grounded mainly in scholarly literature from law and economics and regulatory law and places them in the perspective of ESG and energy transition literature. The main methodology adopted for this study was review and discussion of scholarly work and the results obtained indicate that, although very briefly discussed in the past, in the context of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and energy transition, the theory of reputational regulation becomes more relevant, as it clearly impacts both the Petroleum industry and government behaviors. The implications of this study are significant for scholars, policymakers and private agents in the energy sector. The mechanics of energy regulation, particularly regarding the Petroleum industry, must consider reputational regulation as it affects the relationship between the public opinion, industry and policy makers, involving public and private interest. This study contributes to literature by highlighting for the first time the growing relevance of reputational regulation using the connection between ICT, energy transition and Petroleum industry.