As part of a new Spring Speaker Series, the ELPAR class heard from University of Richmond School of Law Professor Danielle Stokes on her article “Renewable Energy Federalism” and from University of Denver - Sturm College of Law Professor K.K. DuVivier on her article “Preventing Wind Waste.” University of California, Los Angeles - School of Law Professor Albert Lin’s presentation on his article “Making Net Zero Matter” was opened to the Vanderbilt Law School community and demonstrated the analysis that happens in the ELPAR classroom.
These discussions provided students a rare opportunity to hear from authors about their work within environmental legal scholarship and for authors to interact with students passionate about environmental law.
Thank you to the guest speakers and ELPAR students for making the series a success!
The Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review (ELPAR) is published annually in the August issue of the Environmental Law Report (ELR) in collaboration with the Vanderbilt University Law School and the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) in Washington, DC. Each year, Vanderbilt Law students work with an expert advisory committee, senior staff from ELI, and Vanderbilt Law professors to identify the year's best academic articles that present legal and policy solutions to pressing environmental problems. This year's winners are (articles published in AY 2021):
*Articles marked with an asterisk will also be discussed during ELPAR's DC Conference on Friday, March 31, 2023.
In addition, three articles were selected for Honorable Mention:
The Top 20 articles selected for ELPAR 2022-2023 can be viewed on the ELPAR webpage.
"Water Justice and the Constituent Empowerment Model" podcast with Professor Jaime Lee of the University of Baltimore School of Law
Water utilities are tasked with providing clean, affordable water to their constituents, yet, a growing number of utilities are charging high prices for water and/or carrying out policies that decrease, rather than increase, water access. Participatory governance, which aims to enable those who are most closely affected by a problem to influence how policymakers solve that problem, may offer a path to a more just water policy.
In “Turning Participation into Power: A Water Justice Case Study,” Prof. Jaime Lee of the University of Baltimore School of Law offers a revamped model of participatory governance she dubs the “Constituent Empowerment Model.” The model, which was recently implemented in Baltimore, Maryland, goes beyond traditional community involvement mechanisms and has the lofty goal of shifting power dynamics. In this episode, Linda Breggin, a Senior Attorney at ELI and Lecturer in Law at Vanderbilt Law School, speaks with Professor Lee to learn more.
“Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don’t Know You Have,” a talk by environmental journalist Tatiana Schlossberg
Tatiana Schlossberg, a New York-based journalist who has reported on climate change and the environment for the New York Times, discussed her book, Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don’t Know You Have , in a talk at 12 p.m. Wed., Feb. 19, in the Bennett Miller Room at Vanderbilt Law School.
Schlossberg’s book focuses on how ordinary, everyday practices connect to climate change, from the jeans we wear to online streaming services. In addition to her reporting for the Science and Climate sections of the New York Times, Schlossberg’s work has appeared in The Atlantic, the Boston Globe, Bloomberg and Yale Environment 360, among other venues.
Schlossberg’s talk is sponsored by the Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review, the Energy, Environment and Land Use Program, the Urban Green Lab, and the Vanderbilt Climate Change Research Network. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
2020 ELPAR Symposium Keynote Panel, "Roads to Nowhere in Four States: State and Local Governments in the Atlantic Southeast Facing Sea-Level Rise"
February 20, 2020
12:00 p.m.
Hyatt room
Lunch served
The Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review is pleased to host Shana Jones, Thomas Ruppert and Jason Evans to discuss their recent article “Roads to Nowhere in Four States: State and Local Governments in the Atlantic Southeast Facing Sea-Level Rise.” Through their analysis of localities’ efforts to protect property and infrastructure as sea-levels rise and flooding increases, the authors will discuss whether climate adaptation challenges faced by localities merit the reconsideration of the duties, immunities, and authorities of state and local governments.
The event will also feature commentary from the following:
ELPAR Symposium: Green Ethics for Judges
Monday, March 25, 2019
The Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review, Energy and Environmental Law Society, and Energy, Environment and Land Use Program were pleased to host Professor Thomas Lininger, from the University of Oregon School of Law, to discuss his recent article “Green Ethics for Judges.” Professor Lininger discussed the benefits of amending the ABA Code of Judicial Conduct to elevate consideration of environmental stewardship, using strategies that includes the “precautionary principle” and establishing a duty of scientific accuracy in factfinding.
Professor Lininger was joined by the following:
ELPAR Washington, D.C. Conference
Friday, March 29, 2019
9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Please find additional information and RSVP here .
2017-2018 Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review Conference
Washington, D.C.
Environmental Law Institute
Friday, April 6, 2018
Preventing Industrial Disasters in a Time of Climate Change: A Call for Financial Assurance Mandates
Impact Transaction: Lawyering for the Public Good Through Collective Impact Agreements, presented by author Patience Crowder (University of Denver Sturm College of Law)
Monday, April 9, 2018
Managing the Future of the Electricity Grid: Distributed Generation and Net Metering
ELPAR Symposium: Relative Adminstrability, Conservatives, and Environmental Regulatory Reform
Monday, March 12th
12:00 to 1:00pm
Flynn Auditorium
ELPAR, EELS, and EELU were pleased to host Professor Blake Hudson, from the Houston Law Center, to discuss his recent article, "Relative Adminstrability, Conservatives, and Environmental Regulatory Reform.” Professor Hudson discussed the merits of environmental reform through line drawing, rather than federal government programs, as an alternative which aligns with conservative values and tackles their administrability concerns head on.
Professor Hudson was joined by the following:
Michael Butler, CEO, Tennessee Wildlife Federation
Bob Martineau, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Greer Tidwell, Director of Environmental Management, Bridgestone Americas
WBUR Here and Now: When It Comes To Food In Nashville, It's Waste Not, Want Not - April 18, 2017 - Zucchini skins from kitchen prep. A half burger left on a plate. And food prepared for diners who didn't show. It all adds up to a lot of food waste for restaurants. Adjunct Professor of Law Linda Breggin is interviewed.
“Enhancing Conservation Options: an Argument for Statutory Recognition of Options to Purchase Conservation Easements,” March 13, 2017
E&E News Publishing PM: Forum discusses potential impacts of military's energy initiatives - April 10, 2015
Environmental Protection: The Role of Shareholder Activism
Sponsored by
Energy, Environment and Land Use Program, ELPAR and the Environmental Law Society featuring
Andy Mims
, Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisers
Co-sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute and Vanderbilt Law School
April 1, 2016
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
2168 Rayburn House Office Building (Gold Room)
Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
The Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review, Vanderbilt's Energy, Environment and Land Use Program, Vanderbilt's Law and Economics Program, and Vanderbilt's Environmental Law Society hosted a panel discussion of Climenko Fellow Matthew Wansley's article "Cost-Benefit Analysis as a Commitment Device."
Panelists Included:
Food Waste Panel & Nashville Premiere of the Documentary "Just Eat It!"
The Natural Resources Defense Council, Vanderbilt Law School, Vanderbilt's Energy, Environment and Land Use Program, and Vanderbilt's Environmental Law Society present the this provocative documentary on food waste, “Just Eat It!” along with an esteemed panel for discussion.
Wed., October 28, 2015 — 12:00-2:00 p.m. — Flynn Auditorium
Panelists include:
Professor J.B. Ruhl (Vanderbilt Law School), JoAnne Berkenkamp (Natural Resources Defense Council), Darby Hoover (Natural Resources Defense Council), Jaynee Day (Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN), Seema Prasad (Miel Restaurant; Recap), Linda Breggin (Environmental Law Institute; Nashville Food Waste Initiative), Rajesh Karmani (Zero Percent)
The Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review held its Eighth Annual Conference on Capitol Hill
on April 10, 2015 discussing the following articles:
Audio of the entire panel discussion is located on the ELI website.
Environmental Protection: The Role of Shareholder Activism - March 23, 2015 - Vanderbilt Law School's Energy, Environment and Land Use Program, Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review, and Environmental Law Society, hosted Andy Mims, trustee and partner with Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors, for a lunchtime talk.
Public Utility and the Low-Carbon Future in Nashville, Tennessee - March 9, 2015 - ELPAR welcomed Professor William Boyd of the University of Colorado Law School as a part of its annual Nashville conference to discuss the importance of a revitalized and expanded notion of public utility for efforts to decarbonize the U.S. power sector. A panel of experts joined him in discussing this proposal
The Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review held its Seventh Annual Conference on Capitol Hill on April 4, 2014 discussing the following articles:
Audio of the entire panel discussion is located on the ELI website.
Robert Martineau, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will discuss environmental issues in Tennessee - September 9, 2013 - Hyatt Room, 12:05 p.m. Co-sponsored by ELPAR, the Energy, Environmental and Land Use Program, and the Environmental Law Society.
2013 ELPAR Annual Conference on Capitol Hill
March 22, 2013
Audio of the entire panel discussion is located on the ELI website.
