The Environmental Forum

LEAD FEATURE With new funding to reduce risks before calamity strikes, the Biden administration has an opportunity to ensure that state and local governments have the resources and capacities needed for effective mitigation projects that will meet multiple community needs.

CENTERPIECE The information, communications, and technology sector has a recognized energy and climate footprint. But it is the only sector to have a significant “handprint” as well, the ability to enable it — and other sectors — to reduce global warming impacts.

COVER STORY “Build us back better” has become his slogan and foreshadows both his environmental aspirations and his starting point, with many of the Obama-Biden administration’s achievements undercut or undone and huge challenges looming.

TESTAMENT Fifty years ago, it took not only great politicians like Democrat Edmund Muskie and Republican Howard Baker to get the signal pollution statutes passed by huge, bipartisan majorities, it took superb staff work. Leon G. Billings ensured the laws were powerful, implementable, enforceable — and able to adapt to new challenges.

In late 2019, research staff at the Institute began hearing from the profession and other members of the ELI community a desire for an update on what they saw as highly important changes coming from many sources in the pollution and conservation arena through rulemakings, executive orders, enforcement decisions, and other means. The result was Environment 2021: What Comes Next?

In its wake, ELI’s annual Policy Forum took stock of the dramatic actions of the Trump administration in the environmental space, but panelists were also forward-looking. What aspects of the administration’s work may prove durable? What aspects are likely to change?