A new UCLA report shows how Big Ag water agencies are robbing the rest of the state blind. "You can’t solve California’s and the West’s water problems unless you crack down on Big Ag agencies." @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/12/19/e...

Who's afraid of NEPA? Guest contributors Dinah Bear and Niel Lawrence argue that the National Environmental Policy Act process provides unique and wide-reaching benefits. legal-planet.org/2025/12/17/w...

A new @uclalawemmett.bsky.social report by @denisegrab.bsky.social and Craig Segall shows how California can shift existing infrastructure spending from gas to electric to make homes and energy more affordable. legal-planet.org/2025/12/17/c...

An interesting legal points here about the conduct of federal agencies that could be quite useful in our fight to preserve US #offshorewind industry in the face of attacks by the #TrumpRegime.

Can bioplastics really be composted? See how bioplastic packaging interacts with California’s waste system as @uclalawemmett.bsky.social's Environmental Legislation Clinic tours facilities across the state. @law.ucla.edu legal-planet.org/2025/12/15/c...

A district court overturns the moratorium on offshore wind, deciding two key legal issues along the way. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/12/15/t...

A VERY generous write-up from @legal-planet.org, encouraging people to check out @boltsmag.org! legal-planet.org/2025/12/12/s... This is all very kind—and it also raises the crucial question: why is my handle what it is! So, for those who're curious, the answer in my next post!

Data centers are driving energy demand at unbelievable scale. Regulators can, and should, use that to build infrastructure we desperately need. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/12/11/m...

There couldn’t be a more important time for the work we do, writes @dfarber1950.bsky.social. Twice a year we let you know how to support Legal Planet and the two law centers that publish it: @cleeberkeley.bsky.social and @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/12/11/y...

"Anyone who puts gas in a car knows that fuel economy is not a con job." @evanlgeorge.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/12/10/t...

CLEE and the UCLA Emmett Institute released new report today on how California (and other states) can "Drive Demand" for clean trucks. There's also a Jan. 13 webinar with Energy Commissioner Nancy Skinner keynote. @ethanelkind.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/12/09/h...

"We can only expect incremental progress from the U.N. unless or until China takes a leadership role, particularly while the U.S. is also on the sideline." @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/12/08/t...

The CAFE rollback proposal even rolls back standards that the first Trump Administration set. legal-planet.org/2025/12/05/t...

The City of L.A. has captured 5.5 billion gallons of stormwater since October 1st — and that is literally just a drop in the bucket. legal-planet.org/2025/12/05/r...

Here's why Trump's new fuel economy standards are awful, from the expert who wrote the last ones. legal-planet.org/2025/12/05/s...

The scientific process is crucial for a well-functioning democracy. Berkeley’s Center on Law, Energy will be cohosting a conference on science and democracy. legal-planet.org/2025/12/04/s...

Heavy plastic grocery bags are set to start disappearing from California grocery stores on January 1. (Again.) legal-planet.org/2025/12/03/w...

"Tom Steyer is a good man, but his new gubernatorial campaign ignores how to build real power," writes Jonathan Zasloff. legal-planet.org/2025/11/28/w...

The hectic pace of the first few months seems to have turned into a slow walk, if not a crawl. Is Trump running out of ideas? @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/12/01/i...

Even for the Trump Administration, this seems really weird. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/24/t...

Read our suggestions for how to kickstart the important transformation of our urban environment to help shield residents from the worst effects of rising temperatures @uclaioes.bsky.social @law.ucla.edu @uclasustainablela.bsky.social @luskininnovation.bsky.social law.ucla.edu/news/reducin...

Everything is awesome! Well, not really, but China’s astonishing progress in curbing emissions points to a technological way forward — and how the United States is being left behind. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/21/e...

An advisory committee suggests upgrading FEMA, but Noem still hopes to gut it. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/20/y...

Climate inaction is ALREADY a big expense affecting US households' costs. One of the biggest? The impact of climate-related natural disasters on housing costs. New post and research by @kclausing.bsky.social @knittelmit.bsky.social @cwolfram.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/20/c...

New blog post today on work with @knittelmit.bsky.social and @cwolfram.bsky.social. Climate inaction is *already* a big expense affecting US households costs; the most important mechanism is the impact of climate-related natural disasters on housing costs. legal-planet.org/2025/11/20/c...

The state of play in the fight against planet-warming methane emissions. Plus: the crowded field of candidates vying to be California’s next governor now includes a wealthy climate activist. @evanlgeorge.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/19/m...

UCLA’s STOP Methane is a new, user-friendly ranking of super-polluting methane emissions. We just released our Spotlight on the Top 25 in ’25: Oil and Gas Sector. The Top 25 sites are mostly in Turkmenistan — but also Venezuela, Iran, Pakistan, and the U.S. stopmethane.substack.com/p/spotlight-...

UCLA’s STOP Methane Project just released our Spotlight on the Top 25 in ’25: Oil and Gas Sector. Top 25 sites are mostly in Turkmenistan — but also Venezuela, Iran, Pakistan, and the U.S. Why is a Texas gas well on this list of extreme methane emissions? stopmethane.substack.com/p/spotlight-...

Some good electrification news: The state’s gas utilities tried to delay priority zones for decarbonization, but the CPUC has rejected that approach and has selected priority neighborhoods. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/18/t...

Red States and the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce are climate champions? "The hypocrisy in Iowa v. Wright is nauseating." @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/18/r...

UCLA launches the STOP Methane Project with Top 25 Plumes in ’25 lists of methane super-polluters. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/17/p...

Is the risk of legitimizing bad ideas worth it? Maybe so, under the circumstances. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/17/t...

Many Americans today have no memory of the world that spurred modern environmental law. The Documerica project, housed at the National Archives, provides a vivid window into environmental destruction circa the 1970s and reminds us how far we’ve come," writes our Prof. Jim Salzman.

If Trump’s EPA abandons climate policy, could California take over on greenhouse gases? Our Ann Carlson first floated the idea, which appears to have legs. Good story by @gauchoesque.bsky.social calmatters.org/environment/...

When it comes to California's authority to limit vehicle emissions, the issues are complex, but the state has some strong legal arguments on its side. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/13/s...

America’s Dirty Pictures: The forgotten ‘Documerica’ project reminds us how far we’ve come in the last 50 years. And what's at risk. legal-planet.org/2025/11/13/d...

Here's what to watch for at COP30 in in Belém, Brazil... and how to pronounce "Belém" in Portuguese. legal-planet.org/2025/11/12/g...

What to Know About the TFFF Announced at COP30 legal-planet.org/2025/11/11/w...

Private firms like Stardust Solutions want to get in on planet-cooling interventions. Here's why that's concerning. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/11/s...

A new Trump Administration rule restricts which organizations qualify as engaging in public service. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/10/a...

Under the guise of exempting environmentally beneficial projects from CEQA this year, the CA legislature instead created a broad exemption for all kinds of industrial activity, like pistachio processing and metal forging, among others. Details on @legal-planet.org: legal-planet.org/2025/11/05/o...

Such a useful news roundup!

Your morning fix is becoming more expensive thanks to the dangerous duo of climate change and Donald Trump. This week: a look at climate impacts on coffee, COP30, Climate Leader lists, Billie Eilish, and a response to Bill Gates. 🧵 legal-planet.org/2025/11/04/c...

Your coffee is more expensive thanks to the dangerous duo of climate change and Donald Trump. But Trump tariffs — at SCOTUS this week — are tame compared to the climate crisis. I saw firsthand why this is happening on a trip to Acre, Brazil where I met coffee farmers legal-planet.org/2025/11/04/c...

The Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump tariffs could open doors legally for some future environmental actions. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/04/p...

The Supreme Court will be considering legal arguments about the validity of Trump's tariffs. However the Court ultimately rules, therre will be ways for environmentalists to exploit the ruling, now or later. Here's how. legal-planet.org/2025/11/04/p...

The price of coffee keeps rising due to climate change and tariffs. A report from Brazil in this week's installment of The Drain, our weekly roundup of environmental and climate news. legal-planet.org/2025/11/04/c...

We’re now one year from Election Day 2026. Because of polarization, environmental policy is closely tied to political party. The outcome of the election will shape environmental policy. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/11/03/t...

We're one year from the federal off-year elections.So much is at stake. Here's what things look like as of today. A lot could change, but the bottom line is that Dems have their work cut out for them. Tomorrow's state races will provide an additional clue. legal-planet.org/2025/11/03/t...

Will technology save us? It might have to. Battery innovations provide at least some source for hope despite the Trump Administration’s war on renewable energy. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2025/10/31/w...