March 6, 2019
by Sophie White
Climate change
Energy
The recent emergence of the ambitious Green New Deal has quickly shaped the conversation on climate change on Capitol Hill and on the campaign trail. But what is the Green New Deal and is it really a deal at all?
February 28, 2019
by Lynn Phan
Air
Chemicals
Climate change
Fossil Fuels
Litigation
Whenever faced with the decision to declare a “healthful environment” or freedom from harmful contaminants as fundamental rights, federal courts have invariably rejected those claims.
February 13, 2019
by Robert Adler
Air
Climate change
Energy
Fossil Fuels
Regulations
Renewable Energy
While some companies celebrate the EPA’s deregulation efforts, other companies are starting to understand that economic and environmental efficiencies can run hand-in-hand. The Carbon Disclosure Project helps companies see the connection.
February 7, 2019
by Capriel Stevenson
Climate change
Federal Rollbacks
Regulations
The physical impacts of climate change affect companies and their profitability drastically. The SEC released guidance in 2010 urging companies to disclose the risks from climate change but has not further urged companies in recent years. Instead, the SEC has shifted towards regulating other issues the current administration has prioritized, leaving investors in the dark about the financial impacts climate change has on businesses.
February 1, 2019
by Taylor Kilduff
Climate change
International
This post seeks to understand what caused the results of a recent United Nations (UN) report on the international environmental rule of law and outline the international community’s difficulties in implementing and enforcing environmental regulations. Both the domestic politics of individual states and the inherent nature of the international community contribute to the inability of international organizations like the UN to enforce environmental standards on a global scale.
January 25, 2019
by Rourke Donahue
Air
Climate change
Litigation
Twenty-one children are suing the federal government over its failure to address climate change. But does the public have a fundamental right to the environment and is climate change an appropriate issue for courts to address?
January 24, 2019
by Scott Novak
Climate change
Energy
Fossil Fuels
International
Litigation
Natural Resources
Water
Whereas the Refugee Convention does not provide relief for climate change refugees like Teitiota, the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) might.
November 15, 2018
by Ryan Levandowski
Climate change
Public Lands
State and Local
Water
As rising sea levels threaten California’s coast, the state’s characteristic beaches have become a battleground for homeowners, cities, and state regulatory agencies. Because coastal adaptation policies often pit preservation of public beaches against private property rights, recent litigation over the issue has posed a difficult question for courts: Who should (literally) give ground?
October 17, 2018
by Cecilia Turchetti
Climate change
State and Local
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Houston has continued to develop at an incredible rate. Historically, the city and its residents have strongly opposed zoning, but development in floodplains has sparked a debate about how expansion should look for the booming city. How can Houston continue to grow while ensuring the safety of its residents?
September 23, 2018
by Lauren Phillips
Climate change
International
The 2018 Global Climate Action Summit brought thousands of people to San Francisco last week to announce commitments to fighting climate change. Outside the summit, however, protestors demanded that leaders set more ambitious goals. What happened inside and outside the summit, and did it represent a meaningful step to fighting climate change?
By Lauren Phillips, Online Managing Editor