There are myriad ways to engage the public on the climate, health, and other benefits of plant-based proteins—from launching awareness campaigns to providing food sampling opportunities at municipal events. In this podcast, Sarah Backer and Linda Breggin learn about the efforts of a local government and nonprofit as well as get advice from a social…

Very few municipal sustainability initiatives to date have focused on food-related emissions and specifically the relatively low carbon footprint of plant-based proteins, despite the fact that food accounts for over 25% of the average American household’s carbon footprint. And research indicates that without lowering the emissions associated with f…

Over 90% of US primary environmental laws are implemented and enforced at the state level. The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) plays a critical role in empowering state environmental agencies and program leaders to improve human health and protect the environment. Elizabeth Biser, ECOS President and Secretary of North Carolina Department…

Have you seen the images of urban smog from the 1960s? Although there is still progress to be made, U.S. air quality has dramatically improved over the past 50 years. We have the Clean Air Act to thank. Passed in 1970, the Act gave the newly formed EPA the legal authority to regulate air pollution. In this episode, ELI Staff Attorney Jarryd Page br…

From producing food deserts and food swamps to negatively impacting biodiversity and ecosystem health, land use laws have shaped America’s food system for decades. Unfortunately, the shape the food system has taken perpetuates serious inequities. In this episode, Jonathan Rosenbloom, law professor and author of Remarkable Cities and the Security an…

Good environmental governance has long relied on sound, science-based agency decisionmaking. That fundamental premise may be eroding as a landscape that was stable for decades continues to shift—with more perhaps yet to come. Host Sarah Backer and Jarryd Page, co-author of a new ELI research report, discuss the findings of the report which includes…

While often overlooked, wetlands in New Mexico are integral to ecological balance, water filtration, and the local flora and fauna. Maryann McGraw, Wetlands Program Coordinator for the New Mexico Environmental Department, has played a pivotal role in developing wetlands monitoring, mapping, assessment, and restoration strategies for the state. In t…

What role can communities play in wetlands restoration? Jess Hua, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator of the Hua Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is leading research that looks into ecological interactions of wetlands and how citizen science shapes community perceptions of these natural environments. In this episode, the 2022 N…

Wetlands don't distinguish between public and private land. What does that mean for restoration practitioners? Tom Ries, founder of Ecosphere Restoration Institute, is an expert at leveraging public-private partnerships to maximize restoration efforts. In this episode, the 2013 National Wetlands Awardee discusses how living shorelines build resilie…

With ecosystems ranging from lush wetlands to rolling forests, North Carolina hosts an incredible array of habitats. Incredibly, biologically diverse wetlands make up 12% of its land. But as one of the fastest-growing states, these vital habitats face increasing threats—including draining and infilling for development. Host Sarah Backer sits down w…

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC” or the “Agency”) licenses and regulates the civilian and commercial use of nuclear power and radioactive materials, including traditional and advanced reactors. Advanced reactor technologies are poised to provide a lower-cost option for carbon-free electricity and can power a broad range of applications…

Each April, we celebrate the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. This movement resulted in the creation of many of the United States' foundational environmental laws. And, amidst this burgeoning movement, the Environmental Law Institute was established in December 1969. ELI has since played a pivotal role in shaping the fields of en…

Mud Lake, written and illustrated by 2020 National Wetlands Award winner Sam Lovall, is a collection of short adventure stories set in the 1960s and 70s about children freely exploring the natural world in Haslett, Michigan. The book is an engaging testament to the beauty and importance of nature, making it a perfect read in time for Earth Day. Wea…

When airports, buildings, highways, dams, power plants, and other federal activities are proposed, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements are invoked. Passed by Congress in 1969 and signed into law on January 1, 1970, NEPA fundamentally altered how lawmakers and regulators approach human impacts on the natural world. Despite sign…

Over the last three decades, numerous studies have concluded that African American, Hispanic, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and working-class White communities are disproportionately exposed to environmental harms and climate risks. Several states have initiated litigation to address this environmental and public health issue. In…

The theme of this year’s World Water Day is “Water for Peace”. With over 2 billion people around the world lacking clean water access, tensions can arise within communities and between countries. Further complicating the issue, around 40 percent of the global population lives in a transboundary river basin, making transboundary water cooperation es…

Green startups are imagining solutions to the climate crisis and leading the transition to a sustainable economy. Yet sustainable entrepreneurship remains incredibly daunting given market challenges, long pathways to commercial viability, and an ill-suited investor landscape. In this episode, host Sarah Backer sits down with Jesse Lazarus, Associat…

Billions of people around the globe lack adequate access to clean water. This freshwater crisis will be exacerbated by climate change. Liquid Asset: How Business and Government Can Partner to Solve the Freshwater Crisis explores the rapidly expanding role of private businesses and markets in ensuring supply of clean, safe, reliable, and affordable …

Communities are exposed to pollution through the air, water, and land. Multiple sources of pollution and other environmental stressors can add up over time to cause adverse effects to human health and wellbeing. This is known as “cumulative impacts.” Environmental justice (EJ) communities tend to face greater cumulative impacts, as they are disprop…

Building scientific agreement is a meticulous process. In climate science, this process has faced a lot of outside scrutiny. In this episode, ELI’s Staff Scientist Dr. John Doherty joins Host Sarah Backer to discuss the responsibilities of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) and ho…

What do Wetlands have to do with wellbeing? As vibrant and critical ecosystems, wetlands provide economic, cultural, and climate benefits to communities worldwide. Yet, wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate. ELI’s Wetlands Program is working to prevent these losses and reverse the trend. From breaking the news on national legal developments…

A lot has been said about COP28. It has been described as a success, failure, and everything in between, but what actually happened? This week, host Sarah Backer is joined by Jennifer Huang, Associate Director of International Strategies at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) and Kaveh Guilanpour, Vice President of International Stra…

It’s undeniable that we take water access for granted – until we don’t have it or until water quality degrades, anyways. With at least forty states anticipating water shortages this year, using water efficiently is more important than ever. This week, Sarah Backer is joined by Mary Ann Dickinson, Co-Chair of the Water and Planning Network for the A…

Consumers are seeking out ethically made and climate-friendly apparel to gift this holiday season. But how do they know whether their purchases are truly sustainable or eco-friendly? This week’s podcast episode explores the rise of greenwashing claims and the role of the Federal Trade Commission in guiding the industry and holding companies account…

The EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) develops the Agency’s national strategy to enforce compliance with federal environmental statutes. Led by Assistant Administrator, David M. Uhlmann, OECA sets national enforcement priorities, and coordinates with EPA regions and the U.S. Department of Justice to address environmental n…

The United Nation’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 integrated goals that address global challenges, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, the environment, peace and justice. Advancing the SDGs in the US would help to make the US a better place for all. In this episode, host Sarah Backer is joined by editors…

Today is the first day of COP28, where participants will discuss the first-ever global stocktake, an assessment of global action on climate change to date. The global stocktake report includes an inventory of climate-related data which evaluates whether the world is on track to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. The goal is for count…

An estimated 312 million pounds of food will be wasted this Thanksgiving. In this week’s episode, host Sarah Backer is joined by ELI Senior Attorney Linda Breggin and Research Associate Elly Beckerman to discuss the food waste problem and some easy solutions for this holiday season—and throughout the year. Linda is the co-director of ELI’s Food Was…

The Biden-Harris administration has placed an unprecedented federal focus on environmental justice using a whole of government approach, including issuing executive orders demanding accountability and action from a broad list of federal agencies and requiring input from impacted communities. In this week’s episode of Groundtruth, Beveridge & Diamon…

In this week’s episode of People Places Planet Podcast, host Sarah Backer sits down with Dr. Marshall Shepherd, ELI’s 2023 Environmental Achievement Award recipient and renowned scientist, to have a conversation in celebration of his work. They discuss Shepherd’s background, inspirations, and views on solutions for the climate crisis. He delves int…

In this week’s episode of the People Places Planet podcast, Harvard Law Professor Cass Sunstein engages in an illuminating discussion with Vanderbilt Professor W. Kip Viscusi about the social cost of carbon—a hotly debated and frequently litigated number—that is used to quantify the harm caused by one ton of carbon emissions. They are joined by ELI…

In this week’s episode of People Places Planet Podcast, ELI’s three summer interns (Anna Guzman, Natalie Triana, and Alex Alvarez) sit down with host Sarah Backer to reflect on their experience as summer interns, share who they are, their interests, and what brought them to ELI. They delve into their independent research projects, which cover subst…

In this week’s 'court watch' episode of the People, Places, and Planet podcast, Host Sarah Backer and guests ELI Staff Attorney Jarryd Page and Science Fellow John Doherty, dive into how the youth-led constitutional climate case of Held v. State of Montana incorporated climate science and the implications that Judge Kathy Seeley’s decision might ha…

Georgia Ray joined ELI as a Research Associate in August 2021 and has been the Host of People, Places, and Planet for the past year. At ELI, Georgia also worked on projects related to best practices for sustainable land-based aquaculture, wetlands for hazard mitigations, green technology, and the digital economy and the environment. In this episode…

In this week's episode of the People Places Planet Podcast, host Georgia Ray dives deep into an incredible transformation journey with her guests Debbie Sims, Suzi Ruhl, David Cash, and Bill Coleman. Together, they discuss the evolution of Bridgeport, Connecticut's once-neglected Mount Trashmore into the thriving Mount Growmore agricultural, wellne…

People view and value the land in different ways, and these attitudes have significant implications for the environmental movement. In this episode of the People Places Planet Podcast, ELI Staff Attorney Jarryd Page interviews award-winning author Tony Hiss, who recently published a book titled Rescuing the Planet: Protecting Half the Land to Heal …

Environmental laws and the judiciary can play a role in preventing deforestation across Latin America. In this episode, host Georgia Ray speaks with Kristine Perry, a Staff Attorney at ELI, and Juan Corredor-Garcia author of “War on Deforestation” about the ongoing court cases and military action playing a role in environmental protection. Read “De…

Recent wildfire smoke events have highlighted the value of air quality measurement. But how does it really work, anyways? From the latest technologies and regulations to the unique challenges faced by local governments and tribes, this week's guests discuss the transforming landscape of air quality monitoring. Join hosts Georgia Ray and Ella Stack;…

Fish consumption is on the rise worldwide, and with it, fish farming. Land-based aquaculture and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) offer a lot of environmental promise, but do they live up to the hype? In this episode host Georgia Ray discusses the findings of a new ELI report, Fish Forward. Georgia is joined by Elissa Torres-Soto, Irene Jand…

Did you know that sediment could be a critical resource for coastal resilience? In this episode of the People Places Planet Podcast, host Georgia Ray speaks with Derek Brockbank of the Coastal States Organization (CSO) and Dr. Nicole Elko of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) about sediment placement regulations and the b…

At the Environmental Law Institute, interns have the opportunity to develop independent research projects based off their interests. In this episode of the People Places Planet Podcast, ELI’s spring interns, Jenny Tseng and Abhi Vishwanath, join host Georgia Ray to share more about who they are, their independent research work on The Nagoya Protoco…

Language changes how we perceive the world around us, and Scott Fisher is no stranger to that concept. Conversant in the Hawaiin language, Scott’s work centers community involvement with the intention of cultivating a loving and caring relationship of the land. His work at the Hawaiʻi Land Trust (HILT) combines sustainable indigineous land manageme…

From remote sensing to carbon sequestration, Bingqing Liu has the research to back it up. Dr. Liu’s work at The Water Institute is taking a deep look at how coastal restoration projects along Louisiana's coast can mitigate climate events and the carbon capturing potential of local ecosystems. In this miniseries, ELI’s Georgia Ray sits down with eac…

New York City might not be the concrete jungle you think it is. Rebecca Swadek has secured over $22 million in city and grant funding to implement wetlands projects across the city and has co-authored a thirty-year plan for the continued protection, restoration, and care of the city wetlands. In this miniseries, ELI’s Georgia Ray sits down with eac…

Promoting awareness is never easy–especially when you're talking to an uninformed and sometimes resistant public. Despite the difficulty, Matt Hough has been instrumental in galvanizing support for wetlands in Kansas leading to conservation efforts totaling approximately 78,000 wetlands acres in just 11 years. In this miniseries, ELI’s Georgia Ray …

Charlotte Michaluk has been a successful, data-driven advocate for wetland conservation and a continuous force in educating the community, notably through her wetland monitoring curriculums—all before the age of 18. In this miniseries, ELI’s Georgia Ray sits down with each of the 2023 National Wetlands Awardees. ★ Support this podcast ★…

Philanthropic and government resources alone can’t afford to restore all our wetlands. Over the past two decades, Adam Davis’ thought leadership has increased private capital available for large-scale, multi-benefit wetland restoration projects nationally. In this miniseries, ELI’s Georgia Ray sits down with each of the 2023 National Wetlands Award…

Indigenous people used prescribed burns in forests for thousands of years to manage land, reduce wildfire risk, and support cultural practices. Noa Ervin and Claire McLeod of Beveridge & Diamond interview Deniss Martinez, PhD Candidate at the University of California Davis, focusing on how colonial governments and land management agencies have supp…

Wetlands are critical infrastructure for coastal areas and species, but they are also integral to the culture of local communities. This week’s episode features Louisiana 4-H’s Wetlands Youth Ambassadors, young leaders working to protect and restore the state’s wetlands. The ambassadors share their personal experiences growing up near and in coasta…

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is playing a major role in setting air quality standards across the country and world. Led by Dr. Steven Cliff, the agency works closely with scientists, industry, and other regulatory bodies to create a carbon-neutral California by 2045. In this episode, Dr. Cliff joins Justin Savage and Maureen Gorsen of …