It’s not news that the Trump administration has little interest in getting the facts right. But facts often matter for crafting policy that serves our societal goals. And it’s not rare for the law to require that specific factual findings underpin government decisions. In both cases, we need to assemble, understand, and apply the best … Continue reading "National Academies School the Trump Administration on Gold-standard Science"| Legal Planet
EPA’s proposal to rescind the Clean Air Act endangerment finding is not final but it is already causing problems for the Trump Administration in court. The Department of Justice today filed a brief for summary judgment challenging Vermont’s climate superfund law. Its principal argument? That the Clean Air Act — in regulating greenhouse gases — … Continue reading "DOJ Challenge to Vermont’s Climate Law Has a Problem"| Legal Planet
As the California legislative session came to an end last week, Assembly and Senate leaders released a last-minute deal on formally extending California’s Cap-and-Trade Program for the next two decades through Assembly Bill (AB) 1207. The bill received the required supermajority vote on Saturday, September 13, and now moves to Governor Newsom’s desk for signature. … Continue reading "Certainty for the California Compliance Carbon Market"| Legal Planet
New Analysis: The Trump Administration’s proposed rollback of Biden’s standards for fossil fuel generators will cost American dearly.| Legal Planet
Trump has shifted from Project 2025 to the America First Agenda, the blueprint for his transition team. Turns out to be pretty much the same thing.| Legal Planet
A decade ago, California stood out–and not in a good way–as the only Western state without comprehensive state laws monitoring and regulating groundwater pumping and use. But in 2014, following years of severe and protracted California drought, and both agricultural and urban water users compensating for depleted surface water flows by pumping groundwater in unprecedented … Continue reading "Assessing the First Decade of California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act"| Legal Planet
Climate and energy are one of the big dividing lines in U.S. politics. The party platforms leave little doubt: one side cares about climate change, the other loves oil.| Legal Planet
Trump has vowed to destroy the “deep state” using “Schedule F." Here is what you need to know about why this plan imperils good government and is probably illegal.| Legal Planet
In about 12 years, renewable energy went from costing much more than fossil fuels to being cheaper in many cases. That makes a world of difference for climate policy.| Legal Planet
Carbon border adjustment mechanisms are increasingly the talk of Washington. UCLA Law’s Kimberly Clausing explains the options.| Legal Planet
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, in coordination with an equally myopic and partisan Florida Legislature, has approved new state legislation (HB 1645) that eliminates the term “climate change” from numerous existing Florida statutes that former Republican Governor Charlie Crist signed into law in 2008. The legislation, which takes effect on July 1st, is not just symbolic: … Continue reading "Florida Governor DeSantis’ Head-In-The-Sand Climate Change Policies"| Legal Planet
RFK Jr. has said climate change as a serious threat -- but he favors expanded use of natural gas and is dubious about the idea of EPA climate regulations.| Legal Planet