Environmental Law Professor George Pring Takes Part in First Ever Judicial Training Session in Philippines Focusing on Rules for Environmental Cases

Professor George (Rock) Pring, an internationally known environmental law professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and an expert on environmental courts and tribunals, recently took part in the first-ever "Judicial Training Conference on the new Philippines Rules for Environmental Cases."

The conference, held in Palawan, Philippines, featured many of the country's top judges. During the conference Professor Pring interviewed and consulted with the judges.

Professor Pring and his wife, Catherine, have authored a major new study, "Greening Justice: Creating and Improving Environmental Courts and Tribunals," that examines environmental courts and tribunals. The report is published by the Access Initiative of the Washington, D.C.-based World Resources Institute.

[In the picture, the newly sworn-in Chief Justice of the Philippines Supreme Court, Renato C. Corona is seated-center – and immediately left of him (in glasses) is just-retired Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, the father of the Philippines’ environmental courts and rules. Professor Pring is standing in the back row on the far left side. Photo credit: J. P. Galang, Philippines Supreme Court.]

Adjunct Professor and Environmental Economist Catherine Keske to Co-Author Energy Pricing Study for Colorado Governor's Energy Office

Dr. Catherine Keske, an adjunct professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and an assistant professor of soil and crop sciences at Colorado State University, will co-author a major new study, Designing a Technology-Neutral Benefit-Pricing Policy for the Electric Power Sector in Colorado.

Dr. Keske, who teaches Environmental Economics and Energy, Economics and Policy at the College of Law, will be part of a team of researchers considering how concepts such as water consumption, climate change, and air pollution should be factored into the price of energy.

"We are at a crossroads with energy consumption, where environmental quality must also be factored in to have a sustainable economy," Dr. Keske told CSU Today. "As the human population grows, there is an increasing need for energy. We must ensure that energy is available to everyone while curtailing negative impacts to our environment."

To read the full story about the research project, please click here.

Leading South African Environmental Law Professor Louis J. Kotze Visits Sturm College of Law

One of the great pleasures of life at the Sturm College of Law is hosting important visitors from around the globe. That was certainly the case recently week when Louis J. Kotze, a leading environmental law professor from South Africa visited the University of Denver.

Professor Kotze, who teaches at the North-West University in South Africa, is a widely published authority on South African and international environmental law. Among his recent journal articles are "The Plight of the Poor and the Perils of Climate Change: Time to Rethink Environmental and Socio-economic Rights in South Africa?" scheduled to be published soon in the Journal on Human Rights and the Environment and "Access to Water in South Africa: Constitutional Perspectives from a Developing Country," which was published in 2009 in the Finnish Environmental Law Review. He has also edited and contributed to many books about environmental law.

While at the College of Law, Professor Kotze met with several members of the DU faculty: Professor and Associate Dean Fred Cheever, Professor and Director of the Law Clinic Mike Harris, Professor George (Rock) Pring, and Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program Don Smith.

Among the topics that the group discussed included the evolution of environmental law in South Africa and the ratification of a new constitution in 1996 that greatly extends environmental rights in the country. Professor Kotze also told the group from DU about the country's major environmental challenges, not least of which are related to the socio-economic issues the country faces as a developing country such as South Africa.

Professor Don Smith interviewed Professor Kotze, and the interview can be accessed by clicking here.

[In the picture above are from left to right Professors Rock Pring, Louis Kotze, Mike Harris, and Fred Cheever.]

Colorado's Rocky Mountains in July: No More Beautiful Place on Earth

What is the attraction about studying and living in Colorado? There is no better way to address this than by providing pictures of Breckenridge, Colorado, an old mining town located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Denver.

Breckenridge is one of North America's best known ski towns. But summer is also a great season. Hiking, bicycling, rafting, night life. It's all there. Come study at the Sturm College of Law and learn more about Colorado, the Centennial State, and one of the world's most beautiful places.

¡España es numero uno en el mundo!

Several weeks ago, this blog pointed out that nearly half the countries in the World Cup had some sort of affiliation with the Sturm College of Law (SCOL).

Today, in the wake of Spain's 1-0 overtime win over the Netherlands, we can say that a "SCOL-affiliated country" has won the 2010 World Cup.

The SCOL Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy program has attracted students from all over the globe, particularly to the law school's highly rated LLM program. In past years we have been fortunate to have students from España and we hope to have future Spanish students.

¡Por 2010, felicitaciones a España! Congratulations to Spain!

New Nuclear Power Projects Experience Renaissance in Nordic Countries

In recent weeks, the parliaments of Finland and Sweden have given their approval to the development of several new nuclear power plants in the Nordic countries. The grant of parliamentary approval does not necessarily mean that the plants will be built, but it does suggest that the two environmental leaders are --for the time being at least -- finding that nuclear power is an acceptable generating vehicle in the context of worries about carbon emissions and continued reliance on Russia for gas.

The newly approved plants underscore the continuing interest in the European Union in nuclear power. Despite what many may think, the European Union -- one of the greenest political entities in the world -- does not prohibit nuclear power. In fact, France now generates upwards of 80 percent of its electricity from nuclear power and the U.K. has given indications of being interested in more nuclear power installations.

Spokesman for the World Nuclear Association Ian Hore-Lacy said the nuclear power industry is finding greater acceptability generally. "Over all, opinions are firming and more positive. People are less concerned about waste because they've seen it's not a drama, and it's been well managed."

What does this portend for U.S. response to new nuclear facilities? No one is sure, but if two of the EU's most environmentally green member states have chosen to go ahead, can the U.S. be far behind?

Carbon Tax in the European Union's Future? European Commissioners Discuss Carbon Tax, But no Decision Yet

Discussion of a possible European Union carbon tax emerged again recently as the EU's executive body, the European Commission, considered whether to propose legislation to tax carbon emissions.

According to euobserver.com ("EU Carbon Tax Kicked Into the Long Grass," June 24, 2010), the proposal provides "[F]rom 2013, sources of greenhouse gases that are not currently covered by the EU's flagship environmental endeavor, the emissions trading scheme -- sectors such as agriculture, as well as transport and households -- would see a flat minimum fee of between 4 and 30 euros per ton."

The story went on to report that, "One clear line did emerge from the debate, which was that the commission backs a common EU carbon dioxide minimum taxation rate, so member states would not compete amongst each other in offering less onerous rates."

However, the steps in actually moving from a commission discussion of the tax to actually getting it enacted into law are formidable and perhaps even impossible. If the commission does agree to submit a proposed piece of legislation the measure will need to be approved by the European Parliament (not entirely impossible) and then by the Council of the EU. It is at Council level that the real difficulty will be encountered by proponents since the Council -- made up of the ministers responsible for taxation in the 27 member states -- will need to vote unanimously to approve the measure. This is nearly tantamount to impossible.

Nevertheless, while the U.S. becomes more and more bogged down in its own energy legislation, the matter of a carbon tax in Europe should enliven things if only just a little. It does seem worth wondering what the reaction among Europeans might be if they knew that household activities might be subject to a carbon tax.

--Don Smith