ELI News

ELI Announces a New Vision and Mission Statement

ELI’s Board of Directors adopted the Institute’s first Vision Statement and a new Mission Statement at its June 2010 meeting. Our Board and staff worked together to describe a common vision of a successful future and to define more clearly what ELI does to move society toward the vision.

The Vision Statement appears on the homepage. It calls for a “healthy environment, prosperous economies, and vibrant communities founded on the rule of law.” The new Mission Statement is as follows:

ELI fosters innovative, just, and practical law and policy solution to enable leaders across borders and sectors to make environmental, economic, and social progress. ELI:

• Builds the skills and capacity of tomorrow’s leaders and institutions

• Researches and analyzes complex and pressing environmental challenges

• Promotes and disseminates the best thinking through print and electronic media

• Convenes people with diverse perspectives to build understanding through robust debate

NOAA’s Jane Lubchenco on Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is yet another threat to our coastal wetlands and essential waterbodies. Long under increasing stress, our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes need new coordination and management to protect their health for future generations to enjoy their economic and ecologic benefits. In the July/August edition of the National Wetlands Newsletter, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, looks at how Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning would provide ecosystem-based decisionmaking across sectors and jurisdiction to sustain their vital resources for the long term.

A Survey of Climate Change Legislation in the United States

U.S. courts are already significant drivers of climate change policy, and judicial decisions may weigh heavily on the work of the other branches of government. The July issue of ELR News & Analysis provides a chronicling of every climate change case filed through December 31, 2009, providing basic background information, the types of cases, where they have been brought, the types of parties involved, and the outcomes.

Planning for Our Oceans’ Future

Coastal and marine spatial planning is a tool for ocean governance. Yet despite the 3.4m sq. nautical miles of oceans and coasts that the United States controls, there is no comprehensive policy or plan to manage them. In the July/August edition of The Environmental Forum, ELI Ocean Program director Kathryn Mengerink shows how remedial efforts may begin with state and federal agencies and tribes by building on existing laws, regulations, and policies.

Environmental Law Institute Gains 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator

The Environmental Law Institute has received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest independent charity evaluator. A four-star rating is Charity Navigator’s highest rating. Charity Navigator seeks to guide intelligent giving and to help people donate with confidence while shining the light on truly effective organizations.

The four-star ranking is based on a nonprofit’s fiscal health and its respect for the privacy of donors. Charity Navigator rates nonprofit groups by evaluating organizational efficiency and organizational capacity. The site uses a set of financial ratios or performance categories to rate each of these two areas and issues an overall rating that combines performance in both areas. ELI’s listing and a detailed explanation of the Charity Navigator’s methodology may be found on the web site: www.charitynavigator.com.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Receive Environmental Law Institute’s Annual Award

The Environmental Law Institute is pleased to announce that it will honor the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the 2010 ELI Award for Achievement in Environmental Law, Policy and Management. The Award recognizes the agency during its 40th anniversary year for outstanding achievement in protecting human health and the environment and for its leadership of the nation’s environmental science, research, education, and assessment efforts. The Honorable Lisa P. Jackson, EPA Administrator, will accept the award on behalf of EPA and make remarks. Joining in the presentation will be William K. Reilly, Administrator of EPA from 1989-1993, who will make remarks and introduce Ms. Jackson. Click here to view the announcement.