I earlier posted about how Wisconsin cities would begin to lose their recycling programs. It seems now that “Gov. Scott Walker is backing away from his proposal to eliminate mandatory recycling, and instead his administration is suggesting that some localities might want to merge their garbage collection to save money.” Full article here.
Environment
Archived Posts from this Category
April 17, 2011
Wisconsin Communities May Get to Keep Recycling Programs
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Environment, Politics, RecyclingLeave a Comment
April 12, 2011
China & Environmental Courts
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under China, Environment, Judges, Law1 Comment
On behalf of the Vermont Law School’s US-China Partnership on Environmental Law, my colleague Jingjing Liu attended the International Symposium on Environmental Courts and Tribunals at Pace Law School on April 1, 2011, and participated on a Panel on the Environmental Courts in China.
She presented on the Chinese legal system and the development of specialized environmental court and shared the work that Vermont Law School is doing with the courts in China. The other four panelists were my former colleague Tseming Yang, Professor Bob Percival, Senior Attorney Tim Epp from the Environmental Appeal Board of the USEPA, and Vivian Wang from NRDC. Each of them shared their observations on whether China’s courts can play a similar role in advancing environmental law as the courts have done here in the U.S.
To watch the video of the panel, click here. The panel on China and Environmental Courts begins at 02:05:00.
April 12, 2011
TV Video of Professor Czarnezki discussing “Everyday Environmentalism”
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Books, Consumption, Environment1 Comment
Vermont Law School Professor Jason Czarnezki has a new book called “Everyday Environmentalism”. To see the video click here.
April 6, 2011
Czarnezki on Treehugger.com
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Announcements, Books, EnvironmentLeave a Comment
Join BookHugger in Reading Everyday Environmentalism and Get 30% Off Cover Price
This month, BookHugger presents Everyday Environmentalism: Law, Nature, and Individual Behavior by Jason Czarnezki. Readers can order a discounted copy today to get ready for the live chat with Czarnezki on April 21 at 3pm EST.
In Everyday Environmentalism, Czarnezki investigates the individual decisions that have the worst environmental impacts, along with the ecological costs of food choices and the environmental costs of sprawl. In the process, he reveals how public policy can both respect and influence personal choice to drive environmental change.
To get the book at a 30% discount, visit Island Press via this link and use the coupon code 2HUG.
Then, join Jason Czarnezki for a live chat on April 21 at 3pm EST.
March 29, 2011
U.S.-China Partnership for Environmental Law LLM Fellowship
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Announcements, China, EnvironmentLeave a Comment
The U.S.-China Partnership for Environmental Law (“China Program”) at Vermont Law School invites applications for a two-year graduate fellowship starting in August 2011. The fellowship combines the opportunity to obtain an LLM in Environmental Law from one of the leading environmental law programs in the nation with the opportunity to gain practical international environmental law experience on a variety of policy coordination, research, and educational outreach projects. The fellowship includes a full tuition waiver and a stipend of $35,000 per year. More details here.
UPDATE: Application Deadline Extended to May 1, 2011.
March 27, 2011
America “mines” Chinese market
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under China, Energy, EnvironmentLeave a Comment
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.
March 15, 2011
Vermont Law School Retains #1 Ranking in Environmental Law
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Announcements, Environment, Law Schools, Vermont Law SchoolLeave a Comment
Once again, Vermont Law School is the #1 Environmental Law program in the United States according to USNWR’s 2011 rankings. See here.
March 15, 2011
Dispatch from Växjö, Sweden: Europe’s Greenest City
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Environment, LifeLeave a Comment
While I am concerned by Sweden’s increased reliance on the automobile and big-box suburban development, Sweden is clearly a front-runner in terms of reducing carbon emissions and citizens concerned about environmental issues (e.g., carbon labeling for food, Europe’s first green capital). I am currently in Växjö, Sweden, which proclaims itself as “The Greenest City in Europe”, largely based on it’s desire to be fossil fuel free by 2050 (a decision made way back in the 1990s). For more info see here, and here. So what I’m now thinking about is eco-labeling beyond food and consumer goods….what are the benefits (tourism, prestige?) that a small Swedish town gets in having such a label? Maybe an environmental law professor looking for a place to do his sabbatical next spring? I’m also noticing the striking similarities between the geography and demographics of Scandinavia and Vermont, and thinking how some Swedish-style additions to Vermont (e.g., universal health care, free pre-school, high-speed rail from Burlington/Montpelier to Montreal, NYC and Boston like Växjö has to Stockholm and Copenhagen) would make for an even better place.
March 3, 2011
E.P.A. Struggles to Regulate Natural Gas Industry
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Energy, EnvironmentLeave a Comment
March 2, 2011
Presenting at one of Europe´s oldest universities
Posted by Jason J. Czarnezki under Environment, Food, Law, Law Schools, Travel[2] Comments
Today I had the pleasure of presenting my research at a “seminar” (we’d call it a roundtable or workshop) at one of the oldest universities in Europe. Uppsala Universitet was founded in 1477. I presented in the original and ornate law faculty room complete with chandeliers, 500 year old paintings, and amazing marble. I presented my comparative work on eco-labeling regimes for food, and, in addition to the Uppsala Faculty of Law, many private organic certifiers were in attendance. It was a great event followed by tea and pastries. I have never had so much tea and coffee with colleagues ever as I have had this week–time for us to put in a free expresso machine in the hallway at Vermont Law School.
And below is a photo of the church that I view out of my office window (my office is in the white building in the lower left hand corner).
JASON J. CZARNEZKI 