Andrew Cliburn JD’21 POSITION: Summer Intern, WildEarth Guardians
PERSPECTIVE: “I was fortunate enough to land my dream law school job. What initially attracted me to Guardians was their cutting-edge litigation in climate and energy, a decade-long legacy that has had a huge impact on how legal challenges proceed against fossil fuel extraction on public lands. About one quarter of U.S. CO2e emissions come from fossil fuels extracted from America’s public lands. Fossil fuel reserves currently in the ground on our public lands are enough (on their own!) to force our climate well beyond 2C if they were to be combusted. So the work to quickly slow that extraction down— indeed to shut it down—is very, very important. This summer, I’m working on several projects with the Guardians Climate and Energy group. I’m also fortunate enough to be working with the Wild Rivers group under Guardians’ managing attorney—which is awesome and a priceless learning experience.”
PURPOSE: “As a second-career law student, I knew before coming to VLS what I would do with a law degree. I would work relentlessly, and for as long as I’m able, to get justice for those whose voices are systemically underrepresented in our legal system—non-human and human alike. Our system can work for everyone— including the future generations of all life—it just takes advocates willing to fight vigorously to make that happen.”
“ I would work relentlessly, and for as long as I’m able, to get justice for those whose voices are systemically underrepresented in our legal system. ”
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— ANDREW CLIBURN JD’21
Environmental Faculty Profile: JONATHAN ROSENBLOOM When it comes to building a more sustainable “ It is incredibly encouraging to be and equitable society, Professor Jonathan around young individuals who are Rosenbloom believes in keeping it local. constantly talking and thinking “I’ve always been attracted to the concept and the reality of community,” he said. “National about how they can create a better standards may be critical in some instances. But planet and future. And let’s be when we govern at the federal level, policies regulate honest: Vermont is awesome.” generic ‘water’ or ‘forests.’ Whereas at the local level — P ROFESSOR JONATHAN ROSENBLOOM we regulate ‘this river, the river where my kids and I go kayaking’ and ‘this tree, the tree where I proposed to my wife.’ There is a very deep connection to place Associate Dean for Environmental Programs that permeates local regulations.” Jenny Rushlow. “His work reimagining local land Rosenbloom explores that connection between use policies through the lens of sustainability, and policy and place with the Sustainable Development sharing that work through open access resources Code (SDC), a resource that helps communities for local governments, is making a difference in the shape more resilient, sustainable, and equitable world—making him a perfect fit for our community.” communities through local ordinances. Local Rosenbloom officially joined VLS faculty governments face myriad challenges today, from earlier this year, a move that was a long time COVID-19, to climate change, to racial justice. coming. “About 10 years ago I went to the very first The SDC helps them become more adaptable and environmental law colloquium at VLS, and it was resilient, especially in smaller immediately apparent that I found municipalities that might not have my place,” Rosenbloom recalled. the luxury of several planners or “Being around a smart, caring, and a staff member specializing in innovative faculty is critical for sustainability, and whose codes are improving the environment and for often outdated. growing as an individual.” Rosenbloom became involved Now, when he’s not teaching in the SDC while on the faculty at VLS courses like Legislation Drake University in Iowa; since & Regulation and State & becoming the project’s executive Local Government, you’ll find director in 2016, he’s worked Rosenbloom woodworking, creating with an interdisciplinary group large charcoal architectural of academics and practitioners drawings, or kayaking and camping (including lawyers, planners, with his family and friends. city staff, economists, and You’ll also find him continuing A sketch of the Manhattan Municipal Building others) to draft over 450 policy to build out the SDC—now by Jonathan Rosenbloom recommendations supported by alongside Center for Agriculture over 3000 ordinances—all outlined in an easilyand Food Systems and VLS student research digestible format at sustainablecitycode.org. assistants. “It is incredibly encouraging to be In conjunction with the Center for Agriculture around young individuals who are constantly and Food Systems, the SDC’s Food Security and talking and thinking about how they can create a Sovereignty chapter launched on September 1. better planet and future,” Rosenbloom said of the “Jonathan brings so much to the table as students he’s encountered at VLS. “And let’s be a professor, scholar, and innovator,” said VLS honest: Vermont is awesome.” V E R M O N T L A W . E D U / E L C
