I just finished reading my colleague Gus Speth’s book The Bridge at the Edge of the World: Capitalism, the Environment, and Crossing from Crisis to Sustainability. I look forward to discussing the book with him. On the one hand, I think one can levy an easy criticism on the book: that it’s long on “gloom and doom” and short on hope. That said, I think this book better illustrates the environmental costs of modern day consumption and consumerism better than any other that I have read, and levies a harsh critique upon modern economics and capitalism. Perhaps the most interesting quote is as follows:
“[M]ost mainstream environmentalists have not wanted to suggest that the positions they advocate would require serious lifestyle changes.”
So this raises a key query: How can we fundamentally change the way we live?
Unfortunately, what is good for the American economy is not good for the environment, and this is especially the case when it comes to China and the rest of the developing world. A newspaper article, entitled “Joy Global mines Chinese market,” illustrates the problem. The article states:
Given robust demand for coal, copper, iron ore and other raw materials, especially in developing nations, mining equipment sales have soared in the last couple of years. That’s good news for Joy Global and its competitor, South Milwaukee-based Bucyrus International. The two companies dominate the market for electric mining shovels and draglines, which are some of the world’s largest machines. Much of the sales growth has come from Asia, with China alone consuming about 3 billion tons of coal a year for power generation, compared with 1 billion tons in the United States. China plans to build more coal-fired power plants as it brings electricity to rural areas. India burns 500 million tons of coal a year and is increasing coal consumption at a faster rate than China. “It’s momentum that no one can stop.” Sutherlin said. “China, for example, isn’t going to stop industrialization in its western provinces. They want their share of the prosperity.”
The future of environmentalism rests on at least two prongs, (1) the change of the consumption culture of the Western world, and (2) helping the developing world reach the same level of prosperity through sustainable means.
See the cool graphic here.
Hat Tip: Dan Farber.
UPDATE: Wrong hat tip. Thanks to Jonathan Zasloff.
Environmental historian, author of great books like Changes in the Land, Uncommon Ground, and Nature’s Metropolis, and professor William Cronon has come under fire by the GOP in WI. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article about the Cronon story is here. Does this make the argument for the need to have tenure to preserve academic freedom better? Does this say something about the peril of working at a state institution (e.g., this case, and recent attacks on environmental law clinics by state legislatures)? Is there a violation of university policy? Cronon’s writing of this Op-Ed in the Times likely triggered some of these happenings as well.
“Prof Writes on Being An Environmentalist Every Day”
See here and here.
If you are interested in reviewing a copy of my book Everyday Environmentalism for course use or in relevant media, you can request access to an electronic copy of the book through Netgalley here.
Pace Law School, in collaboration with the NY State Judicial Institute,
the Environmental Law Institute, and the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law,
is pleased to invite you to a working symposium on
Environmental Adjudication Around The World
to be held at the NY State Judicial Institute
White Plains, NY
Friday, April 1, 2011
9:00am – 5:30pm
Webcast available at www.law.pace.edu (Events, IJIEA symposium)
This symposium will explore how governments have empowered courts to do more to enforce environmental laws and enhance the rule of law, and how today more than 380 national environmental courts and tribunals are providing access to justice for citizen suits, civil enforcement actions, and criminal prosecutions around the world. This symposium will contribute toward the establishment of an International Judicial Institute for Environmental Adjudication.
Welcoming Remarks:
§ Prof. Nicholas A. Robinson, University Professor, Pace University School of Law
§ Julia Marton-Lefevre, Director General, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
§ Dr. Sheila Abed de Zavala, Chair, IUCN Commission on Environmental Law
Key Note:
§ Justice Antonio Herman Benjamin, Supreme Court of Brazil
Presentations include:
§ Judge Merideth Wright, Environmental Court of Vermont
§ Justice Brian Preston, Chief Judge of the Land & Environment Court of New South Whales, Australia
§ Judge Donald Kaniaru, Environment Court of Kenya
§ Scott Fulton, General Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
§ Charles E. Di Leva, Chief Counsel, Environment and International Law Unit, Legal Vice Presidency, The World Bank
§ Durwood Zaelke, Director, International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE) Secretariat
Space is limited. Please RSVP by March 30, 2011, to Karen Ferro at 914-422-4327 (kferro@law.pace.edu)
The Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice is offering the following awards:
- Nominate a publication of administrative law. Eligible books and articles are those that were published (copyrighted) during 2010.
Mary C. Lawton Outstanding Government Service Award
- Nominate a government attorney or political appointee who has made an outstanding contribution to the development, implementation, or improvement of administrative law and regulatory practice. The award will be presented at the Section’s Annual Awards Dinner in Washington, DC on October 17, 2011.
2011 Gellhorn-Sargentich Law Student Essay Award Competition
- Discuss a problem or issue related to presidential control of agency rulemaking. Eligible students are those currently enrolled in ABA accredited law schools and also members of the ABA Section of Administrative Law. The winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and round-trip airfare and accommodation to the fall conference in Washington, DC.
JASON J. CZARNEZKI 