TERM FOUR

TERM FOUR:

See individual course descriptions for class dates and times.

BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION

(2 CREDITS) ENV5412

July 25–28 and August 1–4, 9 am–12 pm

David Takacs

Across the globe, wildlife and its habitat are increasingly threatened by human-caused habitat destruction, exploitation, poaching, illegal trade, invasive species, disease, and climate change. This course examines what biodiversity is, the growing threats to it, and U.S. and international laws to combat those threats. The course focuses on statutes, case law, environmental ethics, and current controversies to highlight legal, scientific, and political strategies for protecting biodiversity. Particular emphasis is placed on the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

CLEAN TRANSPORTATION LAW AND POLICY

(2 CREDITS) ENV5425

July 25–28 and August 1–4, 9 am–12 pm

Joseph Halso

Transportation is the leading source of climate pollution in the United States. This course focuses on a key pathway to reduce those harmful emissions: the electrification of our cars, trucks, and buses. We will examine the current federal landscape for regulation of tailpipe emissions and the range of clean transportation policy options, with a particular focus on the role of electric utilities and how electric vehicles can support a smarter, cleaner electricity grid. Through discussion, exercises, and simulations, students will learn how to analyze issues, marshal evidence, and understand the motivations of stakeholders in the energy and transportation sectors.

ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

(2 CREDITS) ENV5223

July 25–28 and August 1–4, 1–4 pm

Robert Percival

This course introduces students to the challenges faced by developing countries in developing, implementing, and enforcing effective environmental governance systems. It compares systems of environmental governance in developing countries with a particular focus on countries in Asia and Oceania. Many of these countries, despite contributing very little to the global environmental problems, are among the principal victims of them. Building on the work of the USAsia Partnerships for Environmental Law, this course will examine a variety of case studies that illustrate how environmental law is evolving in the developing world.

ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE FIELD STUDY

(1 CREDIT) ENV5224

Robert Percival

Following the course students are invited to participate in an optional field trip, contingent on the state of travel restrictions, where they can examine firsthand how developing countries are using law to cope with environmental challenges. Prerequisite: Environmental Governance in the Developing World.

THE FARM BILL

July 25–28 and August 1–4, 9 am–12 pm

Chris Adamo JD’04 and Jonathan Coppess

American farm and food policy has long been the subject of strenuous debate and criticism. In recent years, prominent criticism has come from a movement of consumer and environmental interests concerned that the way we eat and how we support producers has an impact on our health, natural resources, and the environment. Other interests raise concerns about Federal spending and government footprint. All of them look to the farm bill. The farm bill, however, is difficult to understand and it is challenging to change policies that have proven incredibly resilient over many decades. The class is an attempt to explain the farm bill and the history and development of the policies enacted, with an eye on how policy has changed and been reformed over the years due to changing stakeholder needs. Students will examine the policies before Congress with a strong emphasis on the political trends and motivations. The goal of the class is to inform students about the range and depth of Federal farm and food policy, while also developing a better understanding of the historical, economic, political, and process-based forces in Congress.

FARMWORKERS AND THE LAW

(1 CREDIT) ENV5901.1

July 29–31, 10 am–12 pm and 1–3 pm

Iris Figueroa

The approximately two million farmworkers who grow our food are essential to this country. Yet they are often overlooked in national policy efforts on issues ranging from immigration law to environmental justice. In some areas, like labor rights and occupational health and safety, they are explicitly denied certain basic protections. This course will detail farmworkers’ current living and working conditions as well as the history of their exclusion from key laws and regulations. It will also explore current tools and strategies used by farmworker advocates at both the state and federal level, including litigation, legislative advocacy, and administrative advocacy. The class seeks to highlight how the intersection of different legal regimes impacts farmworkers and their families. Its goal is to encourage students to first focus on understanding a particular community, and then analyze whether and how the law could be an effective tool in serving that community.

PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT— MONTANA FIELD STUDY

(3 CREDITS) ENV5462

Chelsea L.M. Colwyn MELP’11

The Montana Field Study is a unique experiential learning opportunity. This class focuses on National Forest Management. Students experience forest management, wilderness, recreation, and roadless issues first-hand, in the wilds of Montana and Idaho. Almost the entire class is held in the field; we camp and hike into remote places. Instructor permission is required; contact the Environmental Law Center for further information.

ENERGY CLINIC

This part-time clinic runs for 9 weeks, May 31–August 5.

(3 OR 6 CREDITS) CLI9427

The Energy Clinic introduces students to the practical aspects of real-world clean energy projects with a focus on community energy development and climate justice. Students will become involved in some aspect of the development or evaluation of distributed solar or micro-hydro projects. They may have the opportunity to support the legal, business and policy requirements of a particular project or, through the development of model legal documents, to facilitate future projects. Students will be introduced to the state and federal statutes, rules, tax codes, and ordinances that apply to the development of energy projects, particularly those that promote sustainability at the community level. Specific projects undertaken by the Energy Clinic will be selected in order to support some social justice or environmental benefit, including community ownership, greenhouse gas reduction, or low-income access to clean and affordable energy resources. As part of our Farm and Energy Initiative, students will also have the option to work on a project examining best practices for sustainably siting solar on agricultural land.