Welcome to ELI’s Environmental Governance Programs

The Environmental Governance Programs work to develop inventive approaches to new or entrenched environmental problems and changing technologies and economies. The term “governance” includes the  range of legal and other tools employed in both the private and public sectors to foster environmental protection.

Governance tools include, for example, not only traditional regulations, but environmental assessments, information disclosure, market mechanisms, economic incentives, and public policies and programs that promote voluntary stewardship.

ELI’s Environmental Governance Programs operate at the international, federal, state and local levels. Key objectives are to:

• Develop and foster innovative government and business approaches to environmental protection.
• Safeguard and strengthen the safety net of federal environmental law.
• Introduce policymakers and practitioners to innovative ideas from academia.
• Educate judges about the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws.
• Develop effective environmental, health, and safety governance structures for new technologies.

What’s New and Upcoming....

April 16-18 in Jacmel, Haiti: Conservation of Biodiversity and Environmental Law for Magistrates of the Southeast Department: The first day of this workshop was open to municipal officials, NGOs, and members of the public as well as magistrates and introduced concepts of biodiversity, conservation, ecosystem services, Haiti's environmental law, the role of law, and enforcement. The second and third days provided in-depth coverage of Haiti's environmental laws, the constitution, multi-lateral environmental agreements, environmental impact assessment, property rights, water law, protected areas, ownership and management of resources, and sustainable development.

February 23, 2012 at Vanderbilt University: The Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review: This conference will explore an innovative idea from Joel B. Eisen, Professor of Law, University of Richmond School of Law, on a new solar utility model (co-sponsored with Vanderbilt University Law School).

April 13, 2012 on Capitol Hill: The Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review: This conference will explore innovative ideas from the Academy on: the value of technology inducement prizes (Professor Jonathan H. Adler); new analytic tools for assessing potential catastrophic outcomes related  to controlling greenhouse gases and regulating nanotechnology (Professor Daniel A. Farber); the effect of climate change litigation on tort law (Professor Douglas A. Kysar). This conference is co-sponsored with Vanderbilt University Law School.

June - November, 2011 via Webinar: TSCA Reform Series: Several key issues have emerged as pivotal in ongoing efforts to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Progress on these complex issues is central to the success of TSCA reform. To foster further discussion of these critical topics, ELI convened a series of issue-specific lunchtime webinars during the summer and fall of 2011 that provided a forum for focused dialogue among key players.