Randall Abate’s Post

🌿 Meet Anna Belinski: Environmental advocate and soon-to-be UM Law graduate. With a passion for protecting our planet, Anna chose Montana Law for its renowned environmental law program. Learn how she's making waves in international environmental policy. #EnvironmentalLaw #UMLaw #Sustainability https://ow.ly/ZOaH50RES6e

Earlier this month, Professor Rebecca Bratspies delivered the Annual Lloyd K. Garrison Lecture on Environmental Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University on "Mapping Injustice: Race, Place, and Environment in New York City." Professor Rebecca Bratspies currently serves as a Visiting Professor of Environmental Law and Haub Visiting Scholar at Haub Law. She is also a Professor at CUNY School of Law, where she is the founding director of the Center for Urban Environmental Reform. Professor Bratspies focused her lecture on Environmental Justice, which she describes as having at least two rough components: “fair treatment, a substantive outcome” and “meaningful involvement,” which can be described as a procedural component. She used these components throughout her lecture to discuss the “highly racialized inequality” that exists today, how we got here, and what we can do about it. Her fascinating presentation chronicled the history of New York, starting with the 1890’s, and the evolution of housing in New York from single-family to tenement style buildings and the progression of events and laws and agencies. The Lloyd K. Garrison Lecture on Environmental Law was established in memory of Lloyd K. Garrison in 1995. WATCH THE LECTURE: https://brnw.ch/21wJhq1 READ THE ARTICLE: https://brnw.ch/21wJhq2 #lawschool #lawlecture #environmentallaw #environmentaljustice #newyorkcityhistory #environmentalreform

Gabe Pacyniak, UNM School of Law Professor and Director of the Natural Resources and Environmental Law (NREL) Program, was recently featured in a U.S. News and World Report article that highlighted considerations for a career in environmental law, and what that work might entail. Read more from Pacyniak and other experts here: https://buff.ly/3YVqkAt

My latest article, Protecting the Right to Environment: The Roles of Judicial Commissions and Special Masters, is published in the December 2024 issue of the Environmental Law Institute’s Environmental Law Reporter, Washington DC. This article explores an innovative approach to enforcing the constitutional right to environment in the United States, focusing on six "green states"—New York, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Montana, and Pennsylvania. It examines the limitations of traditional litigation in addressing complex environmental disputes involving this right and draws inspiration from Pakistan's Environmental Judicial Commissions to advocate for expanded role of special masters in these green states. Given the court’s frequent lack of specialized expertise and the complex nature of environmental issues, these quasi-judicial mechanisms can facilitate investigation, mediation, environmental monitoring, technical and scientific advisory, public participation, and consensus-building among different stakeholders. I hope this work sparks meaningful dialogue among legal professionals, policymakers, and environmental advocates about leveraging judicial innovations to strengthen the right to environment worldwide. It can be accessed at: https://lnkd.in/et8dDrJt

The Little Hoover Commission released its long-awaited report on "CEQA: Targeted Reform for California's Core Environmental Law." This report outlines key recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Our lawyers Nicholas DuBroff and Zachary Rego break down what this entails. https://hubs.li/Q02yVjkh0 #CEQA #EnvironmentalLaw #LittleHooverCommission

We’re excited to share that Widener Law Commonwealth Emeritus Professor John C. Dernbach has received the American Bar Association Distinguished Achievement Award in Environmental Law and Policy! His groundbreaking work in environmental law has shaped policy for decades. Learn more about his impact here: https://lnkd.in/ev5_QTdZ #WidenerLawCW #EnvironmentalLaw #WidenerLawCWExpertise #DistinguishedAchievement

🚨📰 In this Columbia Journal of Environmental Law article, Evan Bianchi, Sean Di Luccio, and our own Martin Lockman and Vincent Nolette examine a single question: Does #NewYork's Green Amendment grant private rights that are enforceable against private parties? 💡 ⚖️ To answer that question, the article examines the 50-year history of private litigation under green amendments, the substance and historical context of the New York's Green Amendment, and the broader structure of New York’s constitution and environmental law. Also included is a discussion on a novel evaluation of the shadow that constitutional changes cast on non-constitutional law. https://lnkd.in/eu8e_g8d

Our article, "The Private Litigation Impact of New York's Green Amendment," was recently published in the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law. In it, we examine a single question: Whether New York's Green Amendment (NYGA) grants private rights that are enforceable against private parties? One of the impetuses for this article was a 2022 trial court decision that held, with cursory analysis, that the NYGA does not allow private parties to sue other private parties. After a more rigorous inquiry, we conclude the opposite. That case, Fresh Air for the Eastside, Inc. v. New York, is now awaiting an appellate decision (4th Department). You can read the article here: https://lnkd.in/efU_hu7q Evan Bianchi Martin Lockman Sean D.

"A Pioneer in the field of Environmental Law." ⭐️ Our very own resident, Nicholas A. Robinson has received an incredible honor! The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University has dedicated the Nicholas A. Robinson Seminar Space to showcase his many achievements, accolades, and many published works that have spanned his distinguished career of almost 50 years at the Law School. Read the story here: https://bit.ly/3PMxlOC

Save the date 📅 The EPA and ICEL Trinity College, Dublin (Irish Centre for European Law) are holding a joint environmental law conference which will take place on Friday 29th November 2024 in Dublin Castle. The conference will be convened by Dr Tom Ryan (EPA) and Margaret Gray SC KC (ICEL). The conference will explore a number of themes including Environmental Law Enforcement and Emerging Issues in Environmental Law Research. We hope to see you there – further information available soon: bit.ly/4dKIYyB #EnvironmentalLaw #EPAConference #ICELConference #DublinCastle #LawEnforcement #SaveTheDate