The Energy, Environment & Land Use (EELU) Program at Vanderbilt Law is proud to announce the launch of the Private Climate Governance (PCG) Lab, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to studying and advancing the role of private actors in addressing climate change.
The PCG Lab will serve as a hub for innovative scholarship, resources, and student learning opportunities in the emerging field of private climate governance. Led by renowned Vanderbilt environmental law scholars, the Lab provides feasible solutions to private actors – ranging from individuals to corporations, financial institutions, religious organizations, and advocacy groups – that can effectively contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
“Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, and it is more important now than ever to engage everyone in the fight,” said Ethan Thorpe, inaugural fellow for the PCG Lab. “The Lab will provide a platform for educational and practical resources that support interdisciplinary climate action.”
PCG Lab projects intersect with private actors in multiple ways:
State of the Environment Reports. The annual State of the Environment report summarizes key climate trends and data in an easily digestible format to inform experts and non-experts alike. It also hosts an annual State of the Environment Conference at Vanderbilt Law School.
AI Labeling. Studying disclosure tools that can induce AI users to reduce the energy and environmental effects of AI.
Improving Climate Adaptation with AI. In collaboration with the Vanderbilt Data Science Institute, the Lab is developing a web application that synthesizes dozens of local adaptation plans. The app makes research into local adaptation strategies substantially more efficient for city planners, researchers, and the public.
Medical Sector Standards. Working with professionals throughout the healthcare industry to identify effective communications strategies promoting actionable decarbonization and resilience initiatives.
Supplier Engagement. Using cutting edge dispersed sensing, AI, and blockchain technologies to automatically generate immutable emissions records at scale, so that suppliers can more easily comply with climate requirements imposed by corporations.
The Lab’s website offers multiple resources for private actors and students, including publications, research primers, and a glossary of terms.
“We are thrilled to launch this initiative at Vanderbilt Law School, which is at the forefront of exploring the legal, economic, and social dimensions of climate change,” said EELU Co-Directors Michael Vandenbergh and J.B. Ruhl. “By bringing together scholars, practitioners, and advocates, we aim to catalyze meaningful progress on the climate crisis through the lens of private sector action.”
For more information about the Private Climate Governance Lab, please visit the Lab’s website.
