Looking forward to moderating this panel w/ leaders of some of the most impactful NGOs litigating to save our democracy: @abbiedillen.bsky.social of @earthjustice.org, @skyeperryman.bsky.social of @democracyforward.org, and Rob Weissman of @publiccitizen.bsky.social, plus @newjerseyoag.bsky.social

⭕ 📆On Monday, 9/22, join this #ClimateWeekNYC event titled Climate Change & Democracy, a lively discussion between leaders moderated by our Executive Director, Michael Burger (@profmikeburger.bsky.social). Register ➡️ buff.ly/P1qwIXH @earthjustice.org

Major decision from the High Court in Hamm: In a lawsuit brought by @germanwatch.bsky.social on behalf of Peruvian farmer Saul Lliuya, the court dismissed the claim, determined that German emitters may be held liable for adaptation costs in other countries. Summary at the Sabin Center database

The @nytimes.com reports Trump has directed a broad policy of non-enforcement of federal rules. Citing to Heckler v. Cheney, a SCOTUS decision from 40 years ago, the article reports that non-enforcement decisions may be unreviewable by courts. Not exactly.

This was an extraordinary event, and I would recommend its panels and presentations to scientists, legal researchers and academics, lawyers, policymakers, and others interested in the intersection of attribution science and climate law.

We @sabincenter.bsky.social have been writing about the legal significance of climate change’s public health impacts - at the ICJ, the European Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, elsewhere. This is predictable, and predictably bad www.propublica.org/article/nih-...

Spoke w @alejandrabee.bsky.social @npr.org about yesterday's jury award against @greenpeace.org: "...the effect of a verdict like this...could be to chill speech, to make opponents more reluctant to be vocal in their in their opposition to major projects." This is why anti-SLAPP legislation exists

Spoke to Simmone Shah @time.com about EPA's "reconsideration" of the Endangerment Finding, and noted that they will have to show it "was wrong or was not based on sufficient scientific evidence. And there's no basis for that. The science is quite clear, and the consensus is global.”

EPA is going to revisit the Endangerment Finding. Science will not support reversal, so EPA will look for a legal basis. For this, they will hope SCOTUS will reverse MA v EPA holding that CO2 is an "air pollutant" under the Clean Air Act. But as this book chapter by Phil Barnett shows, IT IS.

Speaking with @clarkmindock.bsky.social about EPA's deregulatory agenda announcmeent: "This administration will have a hard time doing what it wants to do within the confines of the law.”

Appreciated the opportunity to reflect a bit on next week’s trial in Energy Transfer’s lawsuit against Greenpeace: “It’s and a classic SLAPP….and a really, really big one.” insideclimatenews.org/news/2102202...

I guess permitting reform was unnecessary and if the President says "emergency" anything goes? Seems like it's not really consistent with the law. Olivia Guarna and I wrote a bit about this scenario over the Climate Law Blog (blogs.law.columbia.edu/climatechang...) www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/c...

Very excited about our upcoming Legal Colloquium: The New Climate Fiduciaries @sabincenter.bsky.social @columbialawschool.bsky.social climate.law.columbia.edu/events/legal...

The Global Climate Change Litigation Database, hosted @sabincenter.bsky.social @columbiauniversity.bsky.social, has hit its millenial mark: 1000 cases from some 65 jurisdictions around the world, reflecting the profound salience of climate litigation as a means of governance, and a tool for justice

"Trump’s effort to terminate the current roster of IGs and, if one allows oneself to speculate, install loyalists who will turn a blind eye to what is to come, is unprecedented and profoundly troubling" - w/ @zteirstein.bsky.social @gristnews.bsky.social about Trump firing federal Inspectors General

Trump administration is 0-1. Many more losses on the way.

Spoke with @zhirji.bsky.social @bloomberglp.bsky.social about last week's assault on our climate policy, environmental protections, and renewable energy development: "“The sheer threat of it kind of gets undermined by the onslaught.”

"If there’s an energy emergency and we need energy, then you would want to produce energy, including wind and solar energy ... It’s such a clear and obvious inconsistency that it lays bare what’s really driving this, which is fossil fuel interest.” Talking EOs w/ @chloeaiello.bsky.social @inc.com

There is so much noise in the Executive Orders issued yesterday, and so much that is so obviously legally dubious. I'm going to list here some relevant resources that help shed light on how things might play out. 1/7

Proud of the team @sabincenter.bsky.social and our partners at EDF and @csldf.org who got these critical resources refreshed and ready to roll for the years ahead. Keeping track of Trump's assault on climate, environmental and public health protections is no easy task, but these tools will help.