March 25, 2010

NEPA and Climate Change: CEQ’s Draft Guidance

On February 18, 2010, the White House Council on Environmental Quality issued draft guidance that requires agencies to consider climate change and greenhouse gas emissions when carrying out National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. This draft guidance joins a number of other agency initiatives that recognize the importance of climate change considerations, and has also met with mixed responses from the regulated and environmental communities. A diverse group of experts discussed the impact of the guidance, the timing of its release, and the larger questions about the role of climate change in agency planning.

The Draft Guidance is located here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ceq/20100218-nepa-consideration-effects-ghg-draft-guidance.pdf

Panelists:
Tom Jensen (moderator), Partner, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
Ted Boling, Senior Counsel, White House Council on Environmental Quality
William Malley, Partner, Perkins Coie LLP
Noah Matson, Vice President for Climate Change and Natural Resources Adaptation, Defenders of Wildlife