ABA SEER Nanotechnology Project

This post is from my former blog "Environmental Law" and was originally posted on September 30, 2007. 

The American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy and Resources has a Nanotechnology Project. Attorneys involved in the field of manufactured nano materials wrote papers regarding how the regulation of nano materials fit within each environmental statute. The papers can be found on the ABA's website for the project.

ISO for Nanotechnologies

This post is from a former blog "Environmental Law", originally published September 30, 2007. 

Currently underway is the process to bring nanotechnologies within the International Standards Organization's standards. Here is the Chairman's speech on the uses of nanotechnologies. Some uses include purifying water, fuel cells and batteries, and production of light weight materials.

IUCN conference in Barcelona--ELC events

Lois Schiffer speaks at EPA

On September 16, 2008 I was able to see a very prominent woman attorney speak at EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance’s Distinguished Speaker Series. Lois Schiffer, former Assistant Attorney General for the Environmental and Natural Resources Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, currently is General Counsel of the District of Columbia’s National Capital Planning Commission. She also teaches at Georgetown law school which she thoroughly enjoys. She has had an incredible career and loves what she does. This was apparent during her talk. Lois told of her career path which has taken her to some unexpected, yet fulfilling, positions. She told of her career successes in environmental and administrative law.

White House announces answer to Massachusetts

On May 14, 2007, President Bush instructed the EPA, DOT, DOE and USDA to work together to reduce gas consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, as part of the President's Twenty in Ten plan to reduce gasoline consumption by 20% in 10 years. The instruction was partly in response to the Massachusetts vs. EPA Supreme Court decision in which the Court held that EPA had authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide.

These federal departments and EPA are to develop and implement regulations that 1) "reform and modernize" the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for cars and 2) increase the use of alternative fuels. Both of these are aimed at reducing gasoline consumption in the United States.

As for carbon dioxide, the President's annoucement stated that the federal departments and EPA are to "take the first steps toward regulations . . . that will make our economy stronger, our environment cleaner, and our nation more secure for generations to come."

The federal bodies must complete all of these regulations by the end of 2008.

So much Climate Change, so Little Time

There has been an incredible amount of climate change coverage lately that it' hard to keep up.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II panel issued its latest report, “Climate Change 2007: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability.” The
International Institute for Sustainable Development – Reporting Services Division (IISD) noted some important findings. The report described the "observed and projected impacts of climate change includ[ing] various changes in the natural environment, flooding and food and water shortages." Click here for the IISD article.

Click here to read the Summary for Policymakers.

The Climate Registry--infancy stage

Numerous states have informally agreed to start a registry of companies that are voluntarily cutting back greenhouse gas emissions. The registry, known as The Climate Registry, will be a single database to keep track of companies that are reducing their GHG emissions. The registry could be used to push Congress for a national registry and national emissions limits; it could be used to give companies credit for emissions reductions made prior to enactment of national legislation restricting emissions.

Click here for article on Planet Ark.

Latest edition of Multilateral Environmental Agreements Bulletin

The latest edition of the MEA Bulletin contains articles on new publications, draft documents, and several meetings, including the fifth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention of the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification and the Compliance Committee under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

Click here for Issue 23 of the Bulletin, March 22, 2007.

INECE 2006 Year in Review

The International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE) has published a letter identifying its accomplishments for 2006.** Read the 2006 Year in Review.

Topics covered in the Year in Review are:

Developing Regional and Topical Networks for Enforcement Cooperation

Strengthening Capacity for Compliance & Enforcement Throughout the Regulatory Cycle

Raising Awareness of the Importance of Compliance & Enforcement

INECE Governance

**"The International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE) is a partnership of government and non-government enforcement and compliance practitioners from more than 150 countries. INECE's goals are: raising awareness to compliance and enforcement; developing networks for enforcement cooperation; and strengthening capacity to implement and enforce environmental requirements." Read more about INECE.

Upcoming Events

I get a lot of emails about upcoming conferences, lectures, etc. on international environmental law topics. As new ones come in, I will add them to this post.
___________________________________________
February 28, 2007
University of Pennsylvania Institute for Environmental Studies
Presents Joseph M. Manko,
Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP

Laboratories of Democracy: The Collision of Federal and Local Global Warming Policy in the United States

Mr. Manko will review Massachusetts v. EPA and the potential aftermath of the court's decision.

Click here for more information

____________________________________________
March 6-8, 2007
Las Vegas, NV
Power-Gen Renewable Energy & Fuels

Click here for more information
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March 28-31, 2007
Washington, D.C.
American Society of International Law Annual Meeting
Click here for more information
___________________________________________
March 30-31, 2007
The Hague, Netherlands
Conference: "Tackling climate change - Anappraisal of the Kyoto Protocol and options for the future"

The Conference will focus on the legal and institutional aspects of theKyoto Protocol implementation and the post-2012 phase, bringing togetherthe most qualified experts worldwide on the subject.

Click here for more information
__________________________________________
April 12-13, 2007
Washington, D.C.
ALI-ABA Course of Study: International Environmental Law
Click here for more information
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May 1-5, 2007
Washington, D.C.
ABA Section of International Law Spring Meeting
Click here for more information
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May 14-15, 2007
Palais Brongniart, Place de la Bourse, Paris
OECD Forum 2007

Topics will include: Innovation and growth; Sharing the benefits of globalisation; and Strengthening the multilateral system

Click here for more information