Environmental Law and Policy
Anchored by path-breaking programs—the Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program (ENRLP), the Environmental Law Clinic, and the Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance—and complimented by a wide array of cutting-edge research and scholarship, timely policy work, and experiential learning for students, Stanford Law School’s work in the environmental arena dates back to the 60s when the environmental movement was born and continues to this day. Through the clinic and numerous Policy Lab practicums and courses, nationally-renowned faculty, and student organizations, our students are able to actively engage in the issues and advance law and policy. Stanford’s award-winning Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program (ENRLP) has earned its reputation as a leading program for education and research in this dynamic field. The Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance explores and develops economically sensible policy and finance solutions that advance cleaner, more secure energy.
Programs, Centers, and Clinics
In the News
Grizzly Population Surge Tests Boundaries of Species Protection
Bloomberg Law
Concrete science on grizzly bear populations is hard to come by, as the bears roam over huge swaths of land, Deborah Sivas, a law professor at Stanford, said. “It’s a big decision to put a species on the list, and it’s a big decision to take it off,” Sivas said.…
Read MoreHow Business and Government Might Solve the Freshwater Crisis—Together
Should the Endangered Species Act be updated for climate change accounts?
The Great Salt Lake is shrinking rapidly and Utah has failed to stop it, a new lawsuit says
Hawaiian Electric Shares Soar After It Deflects Blame For Lahaina Fires
Held v. Montana Is a Historic Victory for Climate Action—but Also Human Rights
Master of Laws (LLM) in Environmental Law and Policy
Rigorous interdisciplinary training in environmental, energy and resource law and policy. This specialized program seeks to provide foreign lawyers with the legal and policy analysis expertise needed to address issues of pollution, toxic substances, climate change, energy, freshwater, protection of living species on both land and in the oceans, land use management, and environmental assessment.
learn morePolicy Lab Practicums
The Bright Award
The Bright Award is given annually to an “individual who has made significant contributions in the environmental preservation and sustainability area” and is awarded to an individual from one of ten rotating regions.
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Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy
This initiative was incubated to help entrepreneurs and environmental non-profits working on sustainability projects to find firms that are offering pro bono help on these types of important matters
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ENRLP Newsletter
The Spring 2023 newsletter highlights the Climate and Energy Policy Program (CEPP), a partnership between Stanford Law School and Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. CEPP engages in research and policy analysis with government, environmental justice, and Tribal Nation partners. Current areas of focus include:
- Analyzing and addressing legal obstacles to equitable building decarbonization;
- Furthering understanding of wildfire and wildfire smoke risk, and developing mitigation and resilience approaches responsive to the unique concerns of vulnerable populations and considerate of the cultural perspectives and practices of Tribal Nations in California; and
- Policy approaches to ensure a clean and resilient grid and a just and fair energy transition in California.
Read more about CEPP and other news here.
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