Pace I Haub Environmental Law

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law students recently came together for the Pace-Maryland Colloquium, a key initiative of the Maryland-Pace Environmental Law Alliance.

Pace Haub Environmental Law Program students Maria Jovita Lambert, Maureen Hartwell, Gabriela Martinez, and Daniel Dorough presented alongside Maryland students Emily Rudo, John Mauro Gloninger, M.S., and Sydney Schuster during the event—exchanging ideas, sharing research, and showcasing the next generation of environmental legal scholars.

Since 2015, the Alliance between the Haub Law and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law has fostered collaboration between two of the nation’s top environmental law programs. Through joint symposia, student exchanges, global projects, and co-teaching opportunities, the Alliance strengthens environmental legal education across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond.

Read more about the alliance ➡️ https://bit.ly/43TVhYr

Please join us for the 2025 James D. Hopkins Professor of Law Memorial Lecture at the EElisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University

Inundations: Pain, Bodies, and the Law, delivered by Margot Pollans, James D. Hopkins Professor of Law (2023–2025), will explore how the law responds to modern inundations—of chemicals, noise, information, and more—and what these intrusions mean for justice, public health, and the regulatory state. Her lecture draws on interdisciplinary insights and reflects her ongoing scholarship in food, agriculture, and environmental law.

This distinguished lecture honors the legacy of Judge James D. Hopkins and celebrates excellence in teaching and scholarship at Haub Law.

🕛 April 21, 2025 | 12:50 PM–1:50 PM
📍 Ge**er Glass Moot Courtroom
🎟 Free and open to the public | Registration required

Register Now ➡️ https://bit.ly/42rizlZ

FIVE YEARS AT THE TOP! We’re proud to share that the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University has once again been ranked the #1 Environmental Law Program in the nation by U.S. News and World Report—for the fifth consecutive year and the sixth time overall!

“For nearly five decades, the Pace | Haub Environmental Law Program has helped shape the field of environmental law—both in the U.S. and around the world,” said Jason J. Czarnezki, Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law and Associate Dean for Environmental Law Programs and Strategic Initiatives at Haub Law. “Our continued recognition as the nation’s #1 environmental law program for five consecutive years reflects the strength of our faculty, the global reach of our work, and our students’ passion for driving meaningful environmental change. With faculty who are leaders in their fields and opportunities that span classrooms, clinics, and international partnerships, we’re preparing the next generation to lead on the most urgent environmental issues of our time.”

From the courtroom to global policy spaces, our students and alumni are leading the way. Thank you to our entire community for making this recognition possible!

Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/3FYyl05

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University proudly hosted the American Tax Policy Institute & Pace Environmental Law Review Symposium on Tax Law, the Environment, and Climate Change at our downtown NYC campus.

Over two days, experts, policymakers, and scholars explored how tax law can serve as a powerful tool in addressing climate change, advancing environmental justice, and promoting sustainability. Panels covered topics such as the Inflation Reduction Act, carbon pricing, environmental justice, and ESG-driven finance.

Professor Kimberly Clausing (UCLA School of Law) delivered a thought-provoking keynote on International Climate Cooperation After 2024, and Professor Bridget Crawford, University Distinguished Professor at Haub Law and ATPI President, reminded us: “Saving the planet is not a political issue; it is a practical one.”

The symposium concluded with a hands-on learning excursion to Governors Island hosted by the New York Climate Exchange.

Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/3R1AeeN

NEWS ALERT 🗞️ : The Pace I Haub Environmental Law Program is now accepting applications for the Environmental Law LLM Fellow at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University for Spring 2025 - Fall 2026. This is an excellent opportunity to work alongside our top Professors & student leaders for our #1 ranked program!

Our graduates thrive in diverse professional settings, including law firms, government agencies, corporations, non-profits, and academia, both domestically and internationally. With over 40 specialized environmental law courses, our program offers comprehensive education.

📍White Plains, NY
* A Juris Doctor (JD) degree is required for applicants.
Applications must be submitted electronically. For full details and to apply, visit ➡️ https://bit.ly/4hRNptG

New scholarship by Professor Camila Bustos of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, co-authored with Julia Neusner a Climate Research & Operations Specialist at the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), has been published in the Albany Law Review (Vol. 87, Issue 3).

Their essay addresses a crucial question in the field of climate displacement: Why and how does climate change matter when we talk about human mobility?

Bustos and Neusner argue that climate change intensifies other drivers of displacement, making it difficult to isolate a single cause or draw clean lines between voluntary and involuntary migration. They advocate for expanding protections and pathways to safety for all people on the move—whether displaced directly or indirectly by climate-related disasters.

As the authors write, understanding climate's role in human mobility is essential to holding accountable those who have benefited most from the fossil-fuel economy.

Read the full piece in Albany Law Review ➡️ https://bit.ly/4hWRe0J

DISPLACING CLIMATE PRECARITY | Published in Albany Law Review By Camila Bustos, Julia Neusner. This Essay explores how the law identifies climate-displaced people and states’ obligations to protect them, aruging that guaranteeing substantial support for the Loss and Damage Fund is the first step.

Please join us for the upcoming Lloyd K. Garrison Lecture, presented by Professor Anthony Moffa, Associate Dean for Innovation and Professor of Law at the University of Maine School of Law.

With states like Vermont and New York enacting laws to hold fossil fuel producers strictly liable for climate adaptation and recovery costs, a growing trend is emerging: climate superfunds. Professor Moffa will explore the theoretical and moral imperatives driving this policy shift, how new liability schemes may function, and whether they can survive legal challenges.

Professor Moffa’s research focuses on legal tools to address global climate change, drawing on environmental, administrative, criminal, property, and international law. Before joining Maine Law, he served in the Office of General Counsel at the U.S. EPA and clerked for both the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

🗓️ Thursday, April 3, 2025
📍 Ge**er Glass Moot Court Room (reception to follow in Tudor Room) Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
🕐 6:00-7:00pm EST
🎙️ Lecture Title: Back to the Future for Climate Liability

Register now ➡️ https://bit.ly/4krbdXN

A recent Bloomberg Law article discusses the implications of a verdict against Greenpeace, where a North Dakota jury found the environmental organization liable for defamation, conspiracy, and other claims related to its participation in the Dakota Access pipeline protests. The jury awarded $660 million in damages to Energy Transfer LP, which could have far-reaching consequences for environmental activism in the U.S. Legal experts warn that the verdict may deter future protests against oil and gas infrastructure, as the threat of significant liability may be too great.

Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University Professor Josh Galperin is quoted in the article, describing the verdict as "unprecedented" and noting the enormous damages awarded. Caroline Chen, a Haub Law alumna, former Pace I Haub Environmental Law Fellow (JD, '06, LLM, '23), and the Director of Environmental Justice at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, also offers her perspective on the importance of understanding state laws and the risks for advocacy organizations.

This case illustrates the growing legal challenges for activists and organizations working to address climate change, as corporations increasingly turn to the courts to challenge protest movements.

Read more about the case and insights from Professor Galperin and Caroline Chen here ➡️ https://bit.ly/3DOEGKV.

Students from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University recently visited the Jay Heritage Center (JHC) in Rye, NY, —a nonprofit stewarding the historic 23-acre Jay Estate through a public/private partnership with New York State Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation and Westchester County Parks. The visit offered students the opportunity to explore JHC’s mission to advance environmental stewardship, social justice, historic preservation, and American history through education, advocacy, and restoration.

Pace has a longstanding relationship with JHC, including a summer fellowship that gives law students hands-on experience in preservation and advocacy. Learn more about past fellows here ➡️ https://bit.ly/4iq9Xmt.

A heartfelt thank you to JHC President Suzanne Clary for her continued partnership and support of the Pace Haub Environmental Law Program. Each year, she generously hosts our students and shares her deep knowledge of the Center’s history, conservation work, and public engagement. We’re grateful for her ongoing commitment to educating and inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders.

Thank you as well to Environmental Law Society, Land Use & Sustainable Development Director, Emily-Elizabeth Grams, for organizing this trip!

The cleanup of the Gowanus Canal—a Superfund site burdened with toxic sludge—should prioritize both environmental restoration and public health. However, as the EPA moves forward with excavation plans, serious concerns remain about transparency, scientific rigor, and community safety. Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University Professor Todd Ommen, Managing Attorney of the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, recently called out the EPA’s decision to dredge without proper air quality safeguards. In a letter to the agency, the Clinic emphasized the lack of formal documentation or scientific analysis justifying this approach, which could release harmful toxins into surrounding neighborhoods.

Residents have already reported foul odors and worry about exposure to cancer-causing chemicals like trichloroethylene. Alongside NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the Clinic is urging the EPA to uphold stronger safety measures and greater transparency before proceeding. Without critical safeguards, this excavation could expose nearby communities—including those already disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards—to heightened health.

Read More in New York Post Metro Exclusive Coverage ➡️ https://bit.ly/3Y13fuN

Cancer-causing toxins could be spread over trendy NYC neighborhood by Gowanus Canal dredging project, experts warn It’s a murky situation.

The Pace I Haub Environmental Law Program recently welcomed Matthew Baird, Director of the Asian Research Institute for Environmental Law - ARIEL and former Australian Barrister, for a guest lecture on campus. During the lunch hour, Matthew spoke on the future of Environmental Rights, sharing insights from his extensive experience advising on environmental and social governance (ESG) issues across ASEAN nations.

With over three decades of expertise in environmental and planning law, Matthew has provided legal guidance on environmental adjudication, ESG frameworks, and transboundary environmental impact assessments. He has worked with institutions such as UN Environment Programme, UNDP, ADB, IFC, WWF, and EarthRights International, shaping environmental governance and judicial capacity building across the region. We were honored to host him and grateful for the opportunity he provided our students to gain valuable perspectives on environmental rights and governance, hearing firsthand about the evolving legal challenges and opportunities in environmental law from someone with such deep global experience

Eco Journey: Professor David Cassuto 🌎

From the Hudson Valley to the Amazon, Professor David Cassuto is dedicated to advancing environmental law on a global scale. Recently, he traveled to Lima, Peru, as a guest of Universidad Científica del Sur, a valued partner institution of Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. In Lima, Professor Cassuto served as a judge for the finals of the International Moot Court competition, conducted entirely in Spanish.

Reflecting on the experience, he shared:
"It was an honor and a pleasure to judge the finals of the International Moot Court. The quality of the advocacy was inspiring. Furthermore, seeing both the threats to the Amazon and the people working tirelessly to protect it reminded me anew of how important our work is and how vital it is to maintain our international commitments — as a nation, as a law school, and as individuals."

Beyond the competition, Professor Cassuto traveled to the Amazon to join the Scientific Environmental Litigation Clinic (CLAC) at Universidad Científica del Sur, led by Belen Odelid Medina Barrenechea, CLAC director and Pace | Haub Environmental Law alumna. This year, CLAC filed a major environmental complaint against illegal non-metallic mining in Loreto, where deforestation threatens the Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve. To support their case, students and professors traveled to Iquitos to gather field evidence and advance their criminal complaint with FEMA.

📸 Take a look at some moments from his eco journey!

Call for nominations: 2025 Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is accepting nominations for the 2025 Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy—the world’s most prestigious honor in the field of environmental law. Since 1979, this award has recognized outstanding contributions by lawyers, diplomats, international civil servants, and advocates working to advance global environmental governance.

The nomination deadline is fast approaching! Don’t miss this opportunity to recognize a leader making a global impact in environmental law and diplomacy. Submission Deadline: Monday, March 17, 2025, 5:00 p.m. EST

Learn more about nomination criteria, submission guidelines, and past distinguished Laureates ➡️ https://bit.ly/3DyfqbA

How can environmental law better reflect Indigenous knowledge and land rights? In their recent work, Haub Law Visiting Assistant Professor Paul Rink and MS/JD Candidate Michael O'Hora Jr’, who is focusing on Environmental Justice, Land Use Law, and Environmental Policy at the BBard CollegeCenter for Environmental Policy and the EElisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University explore how New Zealand’s Te Awa Tupua Act offers a compelling model for reshaping environmental governance.

This legislation granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River, recognizing it as a living entity with intrinsic rights, co-managed by the Whanganui Iwi and the New Zealand government. The Act exemplifies how Indigenous values and traditional ecological knowledge can shape environmental and land management laws in ways that are more inclusive, sustainable, and just.

Could the U.S. adopt similar models? With growing momentum behind Indigenous co-management efforts, such as the Bears Ears National Monument agreement, this article examines how lessons from New Zealand could help advance Indigenous rights and reshape U.S. environmental law.

This article is published in the AAmerican Bar Associations SEER Natural Resources & Environment magazine. Read more about this legal approach and its implications ➡️ https://bit.ly/41HuATN