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Articles 1 - 12 of 12

Full-Text Articles in Law

Coping With Climate: Legal Innovation In The Absence Of Full Reform, Robert R.M. Verchick, Faye Sheets Jan 2014

Coping With Climate: Legal Innovation In The Absence Of Full Reform, Robert R.M. Verchick, Faye Sheets

Robert R.M. Verchick

In the absence of a federal legislation directing government to adapt to the unavoidable effects of climate change, the Obama administration has put its faith in existing environmental laws like the Clean Air Act (“CAA”), the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”), and the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”). But often federal objectives focus only on reducing greenhouse gases—what experts call “mitigation”—and neglect strategies for coping with the climate disruptions that we cannot avoid—otherwise known as “adaptation.” Where the federal policy falls short, states are beginning to experiment on their own with climate adaptation strategies. This essay examines both approaches, mitigation and …


Arctic Justice: Addressing Persistent Organic Pollutants, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson Jan 2012

Arctic Justice: Addressing Persistent Organic Pollutants, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

This article recommends enhanced governance of persistent organic pollutants through incentives to develop environmentally sound, climate friendly technologies as well as caution in developing the Arctic. It highlights the toxicity challenges presented by POPs to Arctic people and ecosystems.


Adaptation Strategies To Prevent Coastal Wetlands Loss In Urban Areas: Looking At Jamaica Bay In New York City, Briana W. Collier May 2011

Adaptation Strategies To Prevent Coastal Wetlands Loss In Urban Areas: Looking At Jamaica Bay In New York City, Briana W. Collier

Briana W. Collier

This paper examines some of the existing adaptation strategies currently available to address coastal wetlands loss. It uses Jamaica Bay in New York as an example to explore the legal pitfalls and policy considerations in making adaptation strategy choices, and looks toward the new tools on the horizon that may provide a more effective approach for adapting to sea level rise. This paper lays out the relevant science: the ecological and economic services coastal salt marsh resources provide; the specific natural resources at risk in Jamaica Bay; the projected rates of sea level rise; and the other local area factors …


Cancun Climate Negotiations, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson Jan 2011

Cancun Climate Negotiations, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

The United Nations Climate Change Conference, held from November 29 to December 11, 2010, in Cancún, Mexico, relaunched the United Nation's multilateral facilitation role.


Water, Climate, And Energy Security, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson Jan 2011

Water, Climate, And Energy Security, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Civil society participation can facilitate sound energy, climate, and water governance. This article analyzes the dynamics of transnational decision-making. Part II discusses sound energy strategy in light of a shrinking water-resources base due to climate change. Part III considers how public participation in international decision-making can sustain trust in governments and strengthen the legitimacy of legal decisions. Part IV concludes that process and outcome are both integral to addressing water, climate, and energy challenges.


Energy Revolution And Disaster Response In The Face Of Climate Change, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson Jan 2011

Energy Revolution And Disaster Response In The Face Of Climate Change, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Nuclear meltdown in Japan and civil society strife across the Middle East highlight the degree to which resilience is core to international peace and security. This article considers the means by which communities can become increasingly resilient through shared best practices across a range of climate change measures.


Climate Adaptation Policy At The Continental Level: Natural Resources In North America And Europe, Paul Stanton Kibel Jan 2010

Climate Adaptation Policy At The Continental Level: Natural Resources In North America And Europe, Paul Stanton Kibel

Paul Stanton Kibel

No abstract provided.


China In Context: Energy, Water, And Climate Cooperation, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson Jan 2010

China In Context: Energy, Water, And Climate Cooperation, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Climate resilient communities can be achieved with the support of global research, development, deployment, and diffusion of environmentally sound low GHG emission technologies and processes. Technology cooperation should lower emissions remaining mindful of biodiversity, ecosystem services and livelihoods. China and the United States need to respond effectively to both economic and climate crises and can do so in part by cooperating on environmentally sound technology that transforms the global use of energy.


"Stationarity Is Dead" -- Long Live Transformation: Five Principles For Climate Change Adaptation Law, Robin K. Craig Mar 2009

"Stationarity Is Dead" -- Long Live Transformation: Five Principles For Climate Change Adaptation Law, Robin K. Craig

Robin K. Craig


While there is no question that successful mitigation strategies remain critical in the quest to avoid worst-case climate change scenarios, we’ve passed the point where mitigation efforts alone can deal with the problems that climate change is creating. Because of “committed” warming – climate change that will occur regardless of mitigation measures, a result of the already-accumulated greenhouse gases in the atmosphere – what happens to social-ecological systems over the next decades, and most likely over the next few centuries, will largely be beyond human control. The time to start preparing for these changes is now, by making adaptation part …


Hedonic Adaptation And The Settlement Of Civil Lawsuits, Jonathan S. Masur, John Bronsteen, Christopher Buccafusco Feb 2008

Hedonic Adaptation And The Settlement Of Civil Lawsuits, Jonathan S. Masur, John Bronsteen, Christopher Buccafusco

Jonathan S. Masur

This paper examines the burgeoning psychological literature on happiness and hedonic adaptation (a person’s capacity to preserve or recapture her level of happiness by adjusting to changed circumstances), bringing this literature to bear on a previously overlooked aspect of the civil litigation process: the probability of pre-trial settlement. The glacial pace of civil litigation is commonly thought of as a regrettable source of costs to the relevant parties. Even relatively straightforward personal injury lawsuits can last for as long as two years, delaying the arrival of necessary redress to the tort victim and forcing the litigants to expend ever greater …


Hedonic Adaptation And The Settlement Of Civil Lawsuits (With J. Bronsteen & J. Masur), Christopher J. Buccafusco Jan 2008

Hedonic Adaptation And The Settlement Of Civil Lawsuits (With J. Bronsteen & J. Masur), Christopher J. Buccafusco

Christopher J. Buccafusco

This paper examines the burgeoning psychological literature on happiness and hedonic adaptation (a person's capacity to preserve or recapture her level of happiness by adjusting to changed circumstances), bringing this literature to bear on a previously overlooked aspect of the civil litigation process: the probability of pre-trial settlement. The glacial pace of civil litigation is commonly thought of as a regrettable source of costs to the relevant parties. Even relatively straightforward personal injury lawsuits can last for as long as two years, delaying the arrival of necessary redress to the tort victim and forcing the litigants to expend ever greater …


Rising Temperatures: Rising Tides, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson Jan 1996

Rising Temperatures: Rising Tides, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Transboundary environmental problems do not distinguish between political boundaries. Global warming is expected to cause thermal expansion of water and melt glaciers. Both are predicted to lead to a rise in sea level. We must enlarge our paradigms to encompass a global reality and reliance upon global participation.