A New Causal Pathway for Recovery in Climate Change Litigation?
Courts across the globe recognize that human-induced climate change leads to more frequent and severe extreme weather and other events, resulting in significant damages to persons and property. Although courts have therefore ordered countries and corporations to take more aggressive actions to limit their greenhouse gas emissions, no court has yet required any emitter to pay damages for injuries from a climate changerelated event. Causation issues remain a significant obstacle to such claims.
North Carolina Wildlife Federation v. North Carolina Department of Transportation
A district court granted summary judgment for the Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) in a challenge to FHwA's decision to allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation to construct a toll bridge across Currituck Sound near the Outer Banks. Environmental groups argued the decision relied o...
Alliance for the Wild Rockies v. Marten
A district court granted in part summary judgment for environmental groups in a challenge to FWS' and the Forest Service's decisions regarding a logging and prescribed burning project in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. The groups argued the Services violated the ESA by failing to reiniti...
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice v. Federal Aviation Administration
The Ninth Circuit, 2-1, denied a petition for review challenging FAA's decision that found no significant environmental impact stemming from construction and operation of an air cargo facility at the San Bernardino International Airport. The state of California, environmental groups, a union, and in...
Truck Trailer Manufacturers Ass'n v. Environmental Protection Agency
The D.C. Circuit granted a trade group's petition to review a 2016 rule issued by EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that set greenhouse gas emissions and fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty engines and vehicles. The group challenged the agencies' authority t...
Green Bonds and the Climate Crisis
Environmentally conscious financiers are increasingly pursuing green ventures, especially through green bonds and stocks, social investing, and social benefit corporations. On September 21, 2021, the Environmental Law Institute hosted a panel of experts for its Environmental Law and Finance Series that explored the regulatory process for green bonds and stocks, best practices for advising stakeholders and clients interested in green bonds, and the opportunities and challenges of leveraging green financial tools to combat climate change.
Cascadia Wildlands v. Warnack
A district court granted environmental groups' motion to preliminarily enjoin a logging project in the Willamette National Forest in areas affected by wildfires. The groups argued the Forest Service could not use the road repair and maintenance categorical exclusion (CE) to avoid NEPA review of the ...