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Earth Law Symposium

Earth Law Symposium: Transforming Law and Governance for a Planet in Crisis

Thursday, September 14 & Friday, September 15, 2023

The George Washington University Law School
Jacob Burns Moot Court Room

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Leading Earth law practitioners and academics are exploring the cutting-edge legal movement for restoring a dynamic equilibrium between people and the planet. The Earth Law Symposium emerges from and explores the Rights of Nature, rights of future generations, rights to a healthy environment, laws prohibiting ecocide, Indigenous legal frameworks and rights, non-human animal rights, and more. This free symposium addresses the shortcomings of current laws, regulations, and legal systems and investigates Earth law’s opportunities, challenges, and case studies to explore new ecocentric governance strategies.

The Earth Law Symposium is co-hosted by the George Washington University Law School and Earth Law Center. Attendees will engage with experts who are part of a global movement to reshape the legal system and create a harmonious relationship with Nature. This two-day event includes informative sessions and opportunities for professional development and networking.

The George Washington University Law School (GW Law): GW Law's Environmental and Energy Law Program has been at the forefront of education in the environmental law field for over 50 years. The program is expanding significantly to provide the next generation of environmental and energy lawyers with the tools needed to tackle local, national, and international challenges and developments, including climate change, fisheries depletion, air pollution, water scarcity, and new sources of energy.

Earth Law Center (ELC): Since 2009, ELC has been building the foundation of the Earth law movement, advancing the Rights of Nature and other ecocentric law movements in over 20 countries while also training practitioners in these fields. ELC is a global leader with the mission to balance the human-nature relationship and diminish the pace of global warming, biodiversity loss, and the degradation of the global environment.

Schedule

Thursday, September 14, 12:15 pm - 4:15 pm

12:15 - 12:30 pm | Opening: Introductions, Conference Overview, and Goals
  • Dayna Bowen Matthew, Dean and Harold H. Greene Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School
  • Randall S. Abate, Assistant Dean for Environmental Law Studies, The George Washington University Law School
  • Grant Wilson, Esq., Executive Director, Earth Law Center
  • Tony Zelle, Esq., Education and Practice Director, Earth Law Center
12:30 - 1:30 pm | Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Cormac Cullinan, author of Wild Law: A Manifesto for Earth Justice, and Tony Zelle, lead editor of Earth Law: Emerging Ecocentric Law—A Guide for Practitioners, discuss the history of the Earth law movement and its role in the Ecozoic revolution.

  • Cormac Cullinan, Esq., Wild Law Institute, Biodiversity Law Centre, Cullinan & Associates, Cape Town, South Africa

  • Tony Zelle, Esq., Education and Practice Director, Earth Law Center

1:30 - 2 pm | Coffee and Networking Break

Enjoy coffee with other attendees of the Earth Law Symposium.

2 -  3:15 pm | Nature Governance: How Governments and Corporations Are Attentive to the Voice of Nature

This panel discusses the frameworks for incorporating the interests of local and global ecosystems and their constituents in decision-making at all levels. Where the courts, legislatures, and executive agencies of governments have struggled, Earth law adds a qualitative component to efforts, including the voice of Nature.

Moderator:

  • Kathryn Gwiazdon, Execute Director, Center for Environmental Ethics and Law

Panelists:

  • Alexandra Pimor, Director of Nature Governance, Earth Law Center
  • Herman Greene, Esq., Thomas Berry Scholar-in-Residence, Earth Law Center
  • Andrew Niebler, Executive Vice Present, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer, Karner Blue Captial, LLC
3:15 - 3:30 pm | Networking Break

Catch up with other attendees of the Earth Law Symposium.

3:30 - 4:15 pm | Rights of Nature in Ecuador

This panel addresses current developments in the Rights of Nature in Ecuador. Drawing on the groundbreaking language in Ecuador’s Constitution, the panel explores how Rights of Nature is applied to legal theories in cases against extractive industries and in contexts where Nature’s rights are asserted to promote water resource conservation and protect the human right to water.

Moderator:

  • Rachel Conrad, Co-Director, Dulcepamba Project

Panelists:

  • Carla Cardenas, Policy Lead-The Forest & Climate Leaders’ Partnership, UNDP
  • Diana Ulloa Jimenez, Water Director, Adaptation Latin America; Coordinator, Red Agua Ecuador

Friday, September 15, 9 am - 3:30 pm

9 - 9:30 am | Welcome Coffee

Start your morning with coffee and conversation with other attendees of the Earth Law Symposium.

9:30 - 10 am | Rights of Future Generations and Public Trust

Mary Christina Wood is an awarding-winning professor and co-author of leading textbooks on public trust law and natural resources law. Professor Wood will discuss the public trust doctrine’s duty to protect rights of future generations.

  • Mary Christina Wood, Philip H. Knight Professor and Faculty Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center, University of Oregon School of Law
10 - 11:30 am | What Role for Rights of Nature in the Future of Environmental Law?

The Rights of Nature movement has expanded steadily over the past half-century. It has had global impact, raising awareness of the need for legal systems that more effectively protect non-human rights. However, legal recognition of Rights of Nature has been characterized as infringing on the rights of existing rights of humans and raising procedural and guardianship issues. This panel discusses the obstacles and explores the opportunities ahead for the Rights of Nature.

Moderator:

  • Randall S. Abate, Assistant Dean for Environmental Law Studies, The George Washington University Law School

Panelists:

  • Noah Sachs, Professor of Law, University of Richmond School of Law
  • Carl Bruch, Esq., Senior Attorney and Director, International Programs, Environmental Law Institute
  • Dr. Kelsey Leonard, Director of Water Advocacy, Earth Law Center
  • Grant Wilson, Esq., Executive Director, Earth Law Center
11:30 am - 12:30 pm | Ecocentric Ocean Law

The Ocean Rights movement is a rights-based legal framework for aquatic biodiversity preservation, ecosystem resilience, and human impact mitigation. Ocean ecosystems are living entities that would benefit from recognition of their inherent rights and legal standing. Recognizing the rights of marine ecosystems and species could help lead to greater global protection and restoration of the ocean, covering 70% of the Earth. This panel discusses the importance of the marine environment, provides an overview of a bill that was drafted to protect coral reefs through legal rights in the Pacific region, and reviews the Ocean Rights movement's addressment of ocean governance crises and the threats posed by climate change.

Moderator:

  • Randall S. Abate, Assistant Dean for Environmental Law Studies, The George Washington University Law School

Panelists:

  • Rachel Bustamante, Ocean Science and Policy Analyst, Earth Law Center
  • Orion Cruz, Esq., International Associate, Defenders of Wildlife
  • Nadine Nadow, Esq., Legal Fellow, Earth Law Center
12:30 - 1:45 pm | BYOL Social

BYOL (bring-your-own-lunch) social is an interactive presentation about National Pork Producers Council v. Ross, a recent United States Supreme Court ruling affirming California’s Proposition 12 on humane treatment of farm animals. This will be an open discussion with Kathy Hessler, Assistant Dean for Animal Legal Education and Director of the Animal Legal Education Initiative at the George Washington University Law School, facilitated by Missy Lahren, Chair of the Board, Earth Law Center.

1:45 - 2:45 pm | Animal Rights

Around the world, habitat destruction is driving species to extinction while billions of animals are killed for agriculture and other human purposes. These abuses are directly linked to pandemic disease, climate change, and water pollution, among other threats. Advocates have long argued that animals are entitled to legal rights based on arguments including sentience, dignity, and autonomy and that animals should have standing to enforce these rights where necessary. Some courts and legislatures are beginning to agree, but others question whether a legal system built for humans can truly be made to serve animals. This panel discusses some recent developments in animal law in the United States and around the world, with a special focus on Latin America, the intersection of animal rights with the Rights of Nature movement, and the prospects for positive change in United States federal policy.

Moderator:

  • Kathy Hessler, Assistant Dean for Animal Legal Education and Director of the Animal Legal Education Initiative, The George Washington University Law School

Panelists:

  • Mackenzie Landa, Esq., Advisor to the Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior
  • Kevin Schneider, Esq., Counsel, Earth Law Center
  • Dr. Macarena Montes, Visiting Fellow, Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law & Policy Program, Harvard Law School
2:45 - 3:15 pm | Closing: The Future of Earth Law: How to Get Involved

The study of Earth law is a new and rapidly growing field of environmental protection. Earth law’s movements need engagement from innovative current and future lawyers and advocates. This panel will introduce the ways Earth law is practiced, discuss pending litigation, and outline mechanisms to lead the way for victorious Earth law movements.

  • Randall S. Abate, Assistant Dean for Environmental Law Studies, The George Washington University Law School
  • Tony Zelle, Esq., Education and Practice Director, Earth Law Center
  • Herman Greene, Esq., Thomas Berry Scholar-in-Residence, Earth Law Center
  • Natalia Greene, Global Coordinator, Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature
3:15 - 3:30 pm | Closing Networking

Close out the Earth Law Symposium by networking with other attendees.

Download Event Program (PDF) 

Resources

Books and Journal Articles
Other Resources