Climate

The Fight Over Tribal Authority Under the Clean Water Act

The Fight Over Tribal Authority Under the Clean Water Act

2L staffer, Zachary Mills, discusses the importance of the Clean Water Act and how the act continues to change through public and presidential pressure. Mills focuses explicitly on Section 401 of the Act, where it designates state and tribal governments as “certifying authorities” for these licenses, but after Trump’s Executive Order 13956, the EPA narrowed Section 401. Mills highly encourages courts to truly realize the change to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act does more harm than good for the Native American communities.

We're not in Kansas Anymore: The New 'Tornado Alley' and Kentucky's Ongoing Fight Against Climate Change

We're not in Kansas Anymore: The New 'Tornado Alley' and Kentucky's Ongoing Fight Against Climate Change

Senior Staffer, Trevor Payton, discusses the damaging effects of the tornado that hit Western Kentucky in December of 2021. Payton strongly advocates that Climate Change is a big reason behind the more frequent tornados and encourages politicians to realize how serious climate change truly is.

ERCOT and How Texas’ Deregulation of Their Electrical Market Exacerbated the Winter Storm Blackouts

ERCOT and How Texas’ Deregulation of Their Electrical Market Exacerbated the Winter Storm Blackouts

Senior Staffer, Lilly Keitges, discusses the different power grids across the country, but especially ERCOT in terms of it being an island grid. Keitges discusses how the poor regulations of this island grid were a significant cause of the outages during Winter Storm Uri and what Texas should do to help prevent more outages in the future.

Poverty, Wealth, and a Green Future: The UN Approach to Sustained Development

Poverty, Wealth, and a Green Future: The UN Approach to Sustained Development

Wealth and environmental care correlate quite a bit. 2L staffer, Cael Henshaw, makes an interesting point in comparing the wealth and poverty an individual and a country have to the pressing need to care for the environment.

If It’s Broke, Fix It: The Purview of the Clean Air Act is No Longer Effective as Applied to the States

If It’s Broke, Fix It: The Purview of the Clean Air Act is No Longer Effective as Applied to the States

Climate Change is a hot topic where ever you go. An unspoken part of climate change is how air quality is becoming worse over time. In 1970, the Clean Air Act was passed, but it hasn’t been amended since 1990. 2L staffer, Henry Cashen compares State Implementation Plan of the this act with Kentucky & Tennessee.

Where's Our Seat at the Table? An overview of how the Black Community has Been Left out of Spaces Meant to Combat Environmental Issues Despite Being Disproportionately Affected by Climate Change?

Where's Our Seat at the Table? An overview of how the Black Community has Been Left out of Spaces Meant to Combat Environmental Issues Despite Being Disproportionately Affected by Climate Change?

Climate Change has always been present in our society but it has caused more serious issues among the Black community. Check out Kennedy Weather’s blog post concerning this issue and what she believes would help solve this issue!

The Clean Economic Revolution: Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and the Future of Climate Legislation in America

The Clean Economic Revolution: Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and the Future of Climate Legislation in America

In his blog post, 2L staffer Trevor Payton discusses the history of the United States’ climate change fight and analyzes three different presidential administrations’ approaches to the issue. Here, Payton highlights the benefits to Biden re-entering the U.S. into the Paris Climate Agreement by way of executive action and assesses the implications going forward.

Pipe Down! Keystone XL Cancellation a Win for Climate Activists—But for How long?

Pipe Down! Keystone XL Cancellation a Win for Climate Activists—But for How long?

While President Biden’s recent executive order regarding the Keystone Pipeline may seem like a major win for its opponents, the battle is far from over. In this piece, 3L staffer Taygan Mullins discusses the impact of this decision and asserts that this may only be a temporary victory for those supporting the order.