WASHINGTON, April 14, 2021 — The ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources will hold its 50th Spring Conference on Environmental Law, with nine panels over four days, April 27-30. Two pre-conference webinars, at noon ET on April 15 and April 22, will require separate registration.
A keynote presentation at 11 a.m. ET on April 27, “Reflecting on 50 Years of Leading Environmental Law and Action and Where We Go from Here,” will feature Carol Browner, senior counselor at Albright Stonebridge Group in Washington, D.C., former director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy and former administrator at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Ken Salazar, partner at WilmerHale in Denver, Coloorado, and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior; and Federico Peña, senior advisor at Colorado Impact Fund in Denver and former U.S. Secretary of Energy.
What:
50th Spring Conference on Environmental Law
Sponsored by the ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
When:
Tuesday-Friday, April 27-30
Where:
Online
Each panel discussion will be followed by a 30-minute speaker meet and greet. Scheduled panels include:
“Using All the Tools in the Toolbox: An Early Assessment of Reregulation and the Biden Administration” – The Biden Administration has indicated that it will use “all of the tools” in the executive branch toolbox to address the environment, including climate change, public health and environmental justice. Many expect the Biden EPA to engage in robust rulemakings to “reregulate” what the Trump administration attempted to deregulate, however many of the deregulatory efforts are the subject of current litigation, complicating those efforts. Panelists will describe the current landscape for key rulemakings and discuss what steps the Biden EPA is likely to take with respect to the timing and content of new regulatory pushes, as well as the challenges it will face. The panel will close with a discussion of the efficiency and effectiveness of current environmental programs in addressing pressing issues.
Tuesday, 1-2:30 p.m. ET
“Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Environmental Law” – Despite environmental justice being widely considered one of the most important civil rights issues of our time, the environmental legal community struggles to develop and promote diverse talent and relationships with diverse communities. Panelists from academia, government, the private sector and the nongovernmental organization arena will discuss tangible strategies for cultivating and enabling more diverse voices in the practice and implementation of environmental law.
Wednesday, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET
“The Paths of Environmental Law and Environmental Justice: Where We Need to Go to Ensure Equal Protection for Everyone” – A half century ago, environmental law and environmental justice emerged along paths that sought to ensure everyone had access to a clean and healthy environment regardless of race, social status, or economics. This panel will bring environmental justice champions together for a discussion of the history of environmental justice, where the paths of traditional environmental law and environmental justice have diverged, current efforts to prioritize environmental justice, and practical opportunities for lawyers to contribute to solutions.
Friday, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET
For media credentialing and registration, please contact Jennifer Kildee at 202-662-1732 or [email protected].
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