October 13, 2020
by Cullen T. Bryant
Energy
Natural Resources
Renewable Energy
By Volodymyr Ponomarov, Staff Contributor
The European Green New Deal is an environmental plan aimed at making Europe carbon-neutral by 2050.[1] In order to achieve this ambitious goal, the European Union (“EU”) initiated the revision of a number of international agreements. Among one of those agreements is the Energy Charter Treaty (“ECT”). In July and September, 2020, the European Commission and EU Member States had two rounds of negotiations at the Energy Charter Conference dedicated to the modernization of the ECT.[2] The call for the ECT’s reform was, among other things, prompted by the ECT’s purported “serious threat to Europe’s climate neutrality target and more broadly to the implementation of the Paris Agreement.”[3]
The ECT’s modernization is important because this is the first targeted attempt to reshape the unique, legally-binding, energy-related multilateral treaty and marks a step towards compliance with the Paris Climate Accord. Additionally, modernization of the ECT provisions is relevant to U.S. companies investing in both the renewable and fossil fuel energy sectors of the ECT Member States. At this point, it is unclear how the two rounds of negotiations went and whether the actual changes are coming in the nearest future. The third round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in December 2020. This post will take a closer look at the ECT’s history, goals, and environmental standards. Furthermore, this post will address novel critiques as to its incompatibility with the Paris Climate Accord.
May 3, 2020
by Camilla Brandfield-Harvey
Climate change
Energy
Natural Resources
Renewable Energy
By Robert Patton, Managing Editor
The coronavirus pandemic provides a unique opportunity to address global climate change.
February 26, 2020
by Sara Douki
Energy
Fossil Fuels
Natural Resources
Oil and Gas
Renewable Energy
State and Local
Water
Gabriel Dowdell, Staff Contributor
Should the EPA regulate fracking more heavily? Currently, states that benefit financially from fracking regulate the industry.
February 10, 2020
by Trevor Herden
Air
Climate change
Fossil Fuels
Natural Resources
By Molly Green, Staff Contributor.
Do children have a right to a government that protects their interest in a sustainable climate? Will Courts give them a chance to voice the urgency of their climate-based claims?
January 16, 2020
by Dani Brooks
Energy
Natural Resources
Renewable Energy
By Julia Sweitzer, Staff Contributor
California has seen a recent surge in local municipalities establishing Community Choice Aggregation programs to choose their electricity portfolios. But how do these programs work and are they effective?
October 26, 2019
by Sara Douki
Air
Climate change
Endangered Species
International
Natural Resources
Wildlife
By Austin Holtshouser, Staff Contributor
With the consequences of forest fires being felt on both local and global levels, more needs to be done to mitigate these events – domestic government action is essential.
October 21, 2019
by Dani Brooks
Energy
Fossil Fuels
Natural Resources
Renewable Energy
By Nick Gill, Staff Contributor
Although net metering has incentivized residential customers to switch from fossil fuel to solar energy, its pricing model confuses customers and shifts costs, making it untenable in the long-term.
March 28, 2019
by mjb443
Endangered Species
International
Natural Resources
Public Lands
Wildlife
By Timothy Park, staff contributor.
China has been one of the largest contributors to reforestation efforts through its Grain for Green Program. However, have all of their efforts actually helped the environment? One fatal flaw in the program is severely limiting the programs impact on the environment.
March 22, 2019
by Gregory Harned
Air
Climate change
Energy
Fossil Fuels
International
Litigation
Natural Resources
By Isabelle Smith
As the global community confronts the reality that a rapid reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is urgently required, a new class of climate change litigation is emerging. But what impact are these proceedings having?
March 1, 2019
by Rebecca Strauss
Energy
Fossil Fuels
Natural Resources
By Sara Divett, Staff Contributor
The Trump administration issued oil and gas drilling permits during the most recent shutdown without approval or appropriations by Congress and without following procedures for public participation. Can the administration really do this? If not, how do environmentalists prevent this from happening in future shutdowns?
