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?
February 28, 2019
by Gregory Harned
Air
Chemicals
Climate change
Fossil Fuels
Litigation
By Lynn Phan, Staff Contributor
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 21, 2019
by Samuel Ruddy
Air
Energy
Federal Rollbacks
Fossil Fuels
Litigation
By Kathryn Priester, Staff Contributor
Environmental groups and the State of California are up in arms over an EPA memo scrapping a decades-old Clean Air Act policy. Will the DC Circuit weigh in on the EPA’s use of “guidance” to drastically shift US regulatory policy?
February 21, 2019
by De Vann Sago
By Isabelle Smith, Guest Contributor
A successful transition to a low emissions economy and a prosperous, climate resilient future. The call to action for states to achieve this reality has never been stronger. But is it possible? With a new Zero Carbon Bill on the table and strong consultation feedback, Aotearoa, New Zealand may be about to show the world how.
February 21, 2019
by Sang Koo
By Alexandra Kustra, Staff Contributor
February 14, 2019
by bcf27
Endangered Species
Federal Rollbacks
Wildlife
By Claire Fischer, Staff Contributor
The fight over the U.S.-Mexico border wall has sparked a very public debate in the United States. One lesser-known issue surrounding President Trump’s border wall, however, is its effect on the environment. The Supreme Court recently denied certiorari to three conservation groups seeking to halt border wall construction projects that failed to comply with long-standing environmental laws and harmed existing habitats. But why was this construction permitted in the first place?
February 13, 2019
by Samuel Ruddy
Air
Climate change
Energy
Fossil Fuels
Renewable Energy
By Robert Adler, Staff Contributor
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 Caitlin Meagher
Climate change
Federal Rollbacks
By Capriel Stevenson, Staff Contributor
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 De Vann Sago
Climate change
International
By Taylor Kilduff, Staff Contributor
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 Rebecca Strauss
Air
Climate change
Litigation
By Rourke Donahue, Staff Contributor
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?