Two Denver Law Environmental Experts, Professor Jan G. Laitos and Dr. Anita Halvorssen, to Speak at "Rule of Law for Nature" Conference in Norway

Two Denver Law environmental and natural resources law professors will be featured in the Rule of Law for Nature program, which is being organized by the Natural Resources Law Group at the Faculty of Law, University of Oslo from May 9-11, 2012.

Professor Jan G. Laitos, John A. Carver Jr. Professor of Law, and Dr. Anita Halvorssen, Adjunct Professor of Law, will take part in the conference that marks the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Stockholm Declaration, the 30th anniversary of the UN World Charter for Nature and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 25th anniversary of the Brundtland Report, and the 20th anniversary of both the Rio Declaration, Agenda 21, and the UNCED Conventions: the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Professor Laitos' lecture is entitled, "A Right of 'Non-use' for Nature." Dr. Halvorssen and her co-presenter Ottavio Quirico of the European University Institute, will address "The Impact of Environmental Corporate Responsiblity Policies on Climate Related Border Tax Adjustments."

According to the University of Oslo Faculty of Law, "This is an appropriate point in time for reflection on the legal status of nature, how environmental goods and services are valued and taken into account in decision-making, and the implications of the rule of law in this respect."

The deadline for registration is April 1, 2012. More information about the conference can be accessed by clicking here.

Editor's note: The Faculty of Law building at the University of Oslo is shown above.

"Towards Sustainable Companies: Identifying New Avenues" Conference in Oslo, Norway, Features Strong Denver Law Contingent

Denver Law Professor Celia Taylor, Adjunct Professor Anita Halvorssen, and Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy LLM Graduate Diego Parravicini will chair panels at an upcoming conference at University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, on August 29-30, 2011.

"Towards Sustainable Companies: Identifying New Avenues" is an international conference bringing together researchers from all over the world to discuss these important issues. How can we find new and fruitful avenues to make companies and thereby our economies sustainable?

“Business as usual is arguably unsustainable," the three DU-affiliated individuals said. "We urgently need to alter the direction of our businesses towards a balance between achieving profit and contributing to social development within the non-negotiable ecological boundaries of our planet. Climate change is the case in point for the Sustainable Companies project. The project is dedicated to the development and refinement of efficient tools to realize the significant potential within companies to make independent, creative and active contributions to mitigate climate change."

The panels that the three will chair are:

• "Case Studies on Human Rights and Environmental Law," Dr. Halvorssen
• "Corporate Governance, Shareholder Primacy, and Fiduciary Duties," Professor Taylor
• "Corporate Social Responsibility, Codes, Accounting and Reporting," Mr. Parravicini

The Sustainable Companies Project at the University of Oslo Faculty of Law invites scholars from different branches of academia, practitioners and decision-makers from business and government to participate in a high-level discussion of these questions, in a multi-jurisdictional and cross-disciplinary context.

Professor Celia Taylor, who teaches about "Securities Regulation," "Business Law," and "Corporations and Corporate Governance," Adjunct Professor Anita Halvorssen, who teaches "Sustainable Development" and "Trade and Global Climate Change Law and Policy," and Diego Parravicini, a 2009 LLM graduate and now an attorney with the Buenos Aires-based firm of Beccar Varela, are members of the Sustainable Companies Project hosting the conference.

Individuals interested in registering for the conference should click here.

Sturm College of Law Professor Celia Taylor, Adjunct Professor Anita Halvorssen, and LLM Graduate Diego Parravicini Join Sustainability Effort

Three individuals with University of Denver Sturm College of Law ties have been asked to participate in Sustainable Companies, an Oslo, Norway-based effort aimed at studying how to better integrate environmental protection in the decision-making process in companies with the aim of contributing to sustainable economic development.

Professor Celia Taylor, who teaches about Securities Regulation, Business Law, and Corporations and Corporate Governance, Adjunct Professor Anita Halvorssen, who teaches the Law of Sustainable Development and Trade and Global Climate Change Law and Policy, and Diego Parravicini, a 2009 LLM graduate of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Graduate Program and now an attorney with the Buenos Aires-based firm of Beccar Varela, have been asked to join a global group of experts examining the key issues.

The research effort, which is being co-ordinated by the University of Oslo Faculty of Law, began in January 2010. According to the project's organizers the aim of the undertaking is as follows:

Taking companies’ substantial contributions to climate change as a given fact, companies have to be addressed more effectively when designing strategies to mitigate climate change. A fundamental assumption is that traditional external regulation of companies, e.g. through environmental law, is not sufficient. Our hypothesis is that environmental sustainability in the operation of companies cannot be effectively achieved unless the objective is properly integrated into company law and thereby into the internal workings of the company.

The Norwegian Research Council has provided vital financing for the project, which will run through December 2012.

Lucy Daberkow, Associate Administrative Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Graduate Program, said, "It is very impressive for the Sturm College of Law to have three participants in this important study. Professor Taylor, Dr. Halvorssen, and Mr. Parravicini will contribute excellent perspectives, from the United States and Argentina respectively, to this global study that aims to learn more about integrating environmental considerations into the heart of business decision-making."

Dr. Elizabeth Holland, Senior Scientist at NCAR, to Address the Science of Climate Change on January 18 at Sturm College of Law; Talk Open to Public

Dr. Elizabeth Holland, Senior Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), will talk about the science of climate change to all students, faculty, and others interested in the topic in conjunction with Adjunct Professor Anita Halvorssen's Global Climate Change Law & Policy course at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 18 in room 180.

Dr. Holland leads the Biogeoscience Program (BGS) at NCAR. Dr. Holland and the other lead authors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), along with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore , were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2007.

Environmental and Natural Resources Law Graduate Program Alums Danny Splettstosser and Leslie Weise Speak About Careers in Renewables and Clean Tech

Two recent graduates, Danny Splettstosser (Masters in Resources Law Studies, 2008) and Leslie Weise (LLM, 2005), spoke last week about careers in the renewable energy and clean technology sectors to a large group of students at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. The event was the second in the on-going Speakers Series, sponsored by the Environmental and Natural Resources Law program.

Mr. Splettstosser is a renewable energy project developer for enXco, the American subsidiary of French electricity giant EDF. Ms. Weise is vice president for business development for Boulder-based clean tech firm CoolEnergy.

There are three career tracks available to individuals looking to work in the renewables industry, Mr. Splettstosser said: (1) inside or outside legal counsel; (2) legislative or regulatory specialist; or (3) project development, which is the track he is in. The project development role requires someone who can "see the big picture, is detail oriented, and is willing to work long hours," he said. One of the most satisfying aspects of his job is knowing that "At the end of the day there is something standing [a wind turbine or a solar array] that reflects your social and work ethic," he said.

He identified four key steps that students who are interested in this sector should be thinking about:

• Take the College of Law courses that address subjects such as renewables [DU now has three exceptionally good renewable energy-related courses], as well as Land Use and Environmental Law.
• Understand the sector you are considering; read the publications that deal with the sector and be knowledgeable about the business issues companies and developers are facing.
• Take advantage of the numerous externship opportunities offered by the College of Law (he had an externship at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Golden field office, which works with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that is also in Golden).
• Be passionate about working in the field and express that passion to those you interview with.

Ms. Weise, who works on legal matters and business development including seeking grant funds, noted some additional ideas regarding how to pursue work in the clean tech sector:

• Networking is extremely important; get involved in the many diverse industry and social groups (for example the local branch of the Sierra Club) that meet regularly in the Denver-Boulder area; get to know the key players in these groups.
• Be prepared at the interview; spend time at the company's website and know who the competitors are as well as what is going on in the market.
• When interviewing with a start up company, be prepared to emphasize your cross functional skills (which you should work on during your education); be prepared to talk about your marketing, writing, research and grant-writing skills, as well as your legal skills.

Ms. Weise also emphasized the importance of pursuing externships during a student's studies. As it turns out, she also was an extern at the U.S. DOE Golden field office.

The event was rounded out by a series of questions and answers, as students sought more detailed information from the guest speakers. Introductions were also made to two professors who attended, Energy Law Professor K.K. DuVivier and Adjunct Professor Anita Halvorssen who teaches courses about Climate Change and Sustainable Development.

Don C. Smith, director of the ENRL program observed afterwards that the College of Law is fortunate to have graduates such as Mr. Splettstosser and Ms. Weise, and many others, who are so willing to help current students understand the key aspects of looking for jobs and pursuing them. "Danny and Leslie have been particularly supportive of our program. The time and energy they invest in helping our students reflects their own passion to the sectors they work in and their own personal commitments to building a better world for future generations."

The Speakers Series continues on November 9 when Kate Iverson, assistant general counsel for RTD Fastracks, which is building out Denver's light rail system, speaks.

Dr. Elisabeth Holland, Senior Scientist at NCAR, Speaks To DU Class About the Science of Global Warming

Dr. Elisabeth A. Holland, Senior Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) that is located about 60 kilometers from Denver, gave a presentation recently on the science of global warming to students in Prof. Anita Halvorssen's Global Climate Change Law & Policy course at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

Dr. Holland, shown at right in picture along with Prof. Halvorssen, along with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and the other lead authors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2007.

Dr. Holland spoke of the many changes that signal a warming world including rising atmospheric temperatures, rising sea levels, and a reduction in the Northern Hemisphere's snow cover. The IPCC's conclusion was that warming is unequivocal. She went on to say that precipitation over land is changing significantly over broad areas with extreme weather resulting in heavy rainfall over North America. She also said that the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are shrinking.

"Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the 20th century is 'very likely' [i.e., meaning 90 percent] due to the observed increase in anthropogenic [human-caused] greenhouse gas concentrations," Dr. Holland said.

Finally, she said that in order to achieve the IPCC's recommended 2 percent reduction in global emissions of carbon dioxide, the world would have to reduce the rate of emissions by 3.7 percent per year beginning in 2011, 5.3 percent per year beginning in 2015, or 9 percent per year beginning in 2020.

The next IPCC report will be published in 2012.

--Lucy Daberkow

Assistant Graduate Program Director

Final Post From the UN Climate Change Conference: Dr. Anita Halvorssen Assesses What Was and Was Not Accomplished

All week Dr. Anita Halvorssen has been reporting from the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Here is today's final report:

At the final, tumultuous Plenary meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC at their 15th session (COP15), the Parties agreed to "take note" of the Climate Accord, the deal brokered by President Obama together with leaders from India, Brazil, South Africa, and China last night. Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Sudan objected to the "note." The accord still needs to be formally approved by the Parties.

Highlights from the Climate Accord include the limit of a two degree Celcius increase in global temperature rise, the 30 billion dollars for developing countries for adaptation between 2010 and 2012, 100 billion dollars starting 2020 to be mobilized for developing countries to be used for mitigation and adaptation, and the establishment of the Reduction of Deforestation and Forest Degredation (REDD plus) mechanism and a technology mechanism.

Many participants at COP-15 were not thrilled with the new Climate Accord, since it is not a binding agreement and there are no binding emission reduction cuts for developed countries or mitigation action for developing countries. The small island states in the Pacific are not happy with the two degree limit on the temperature rise because they may well become submerged as a result, but compared to walking out empty-handed, I think COP-15 has taken us one step closer to the goal of the UNFCCC which is to stabilize the greenhouse gases (GHGs) to a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human caused) interference with the climate system.

It is just two years ago since the IPCC in its fourth assessment report (AR4) determined the 2 degree limit was where we needed to be, now the international community has accepted the limit - that has to be progress. The fact that 119 world leaders came to Copenhagen shows that the international community understands the seriousness of climate change. I think we are headed in the right direction, slowly, but surely.

The next meetings will take place in Bonn in June of 2010, and COP-16 will be in Mexico the second week of November in 2010.

Dr. Halvorssen, who teaches at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, has attended the proceedings for the Prof. Ved Nanda Center for the Study of International Law. Her participation was accredited by the American Society of International Law.

Danish family member and Dr. Anita Halvorssen walking on Strøget - the world´s oldest pedestrian street.









Rosenborg - 1630s.

Observations from the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen

This week Dr. Anita Halvorssen has been reporting from the UN Climate Change Conference in Denmark. Today's posting and pictures follow:

Due to capacity problems at the Bella Center, a new venue, the Forum, was reserved for the NGOs that do not have access to the Bella Center. As I did not win the lottery for access cards to get into the COP-15 venue, the Forum (see picture below) is my new meeting place for the last two days of the conference.

The Parties to the UNFCCC seem to be in agreement on the financing side of the COP-15 negotiations. Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian Prime Minister, on behalf of the African countries, Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, and Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, among others, have all announced that the developed countries will contribute $100 billion to help developing countries address mitigation and adaptation issues starting 2020. This was one of the biggest sticking points of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action under the Convention.

Side Event: The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) arranged a panel entitled Fair Climate: US Constituencies’ Perspectives. It was hosted by Bellona, a Norwegian NGO. Gloria Reuben, from ‘ER’, an Emmy nominated actress and climate change activist talked about the negative ramifications of mountain top removal coal mining in Virginia. Jerome Ringo, President of Apollo Alliance, stated that climate change is much more than the COP-15 Conference, it is about tomorrow, it is about humanity. Jerome said “Ten to twenty years from now, what will we say to our children and grandchildren when they ask, 'You were at Copenhagen. What did you do?'”

John Grant, NWF Board member, CEO of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, emphasized the right to have a healthy, sustainable environment. Look to, not just the near term, but a hundred years from now, what can we do to enable human sustainability a thousand years from now. Alabama had a terrible drought, the governor prayed for rain. In Africa, women walk all day to find water. Ask yourselves every day, he said: “What am I going to do today to create a healthier planet?” The goods we buy and vehicles we drive need to be carbon neutral. “We need to hold each other individually accountable,” he stated.

Jackie Patterson, NAACP Climate Justice Initiative Director, spoke of heightened vulnerability of women. Regarding climate change, gender studies show that women are more impacted than men by environmental disasters. Women who are more likely to be poor, will be more exposed to displacement due to climate change.

The final speaker, Bob Gruenig, National Tribal Environment Council stated that you can tell the character of a country’s leaders by the way they treat their indigenous peoples. Many of these people are being affected by climate change. Southwest of the US, the native American tribes are seeing their water sources drying up due to climate change. In Kivalina, Alaska, the village has to move due to the ice off the coast having melted, enabling the ocean to erode the coastline. It will cost $100-400 million to relocate the people.

Addressing a question from the audience on how to deal with the climate skeptics in the US, the panelist said this was a big problem, but that most Americans wanted action on climate change. The message needs to be simple, that it’s an investment in the future, yes there will be costs, but there are bigger costs of inaction.

Dr. Halvorssen, who teaches at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, is attending the proceedings for the Prof. Ved Nanda Center for the Study of International Law and accredited by the American Society of International Law.

From outside the conference: A little snow does not keep the Danes from bicycling.