The GreenLaw Blog
A solution-oriented publication, GreenLaw aims to provide information, context, and commentary on current events and developments in the field of environmental law.
How the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity May Help Seaports Prepare for Climate Change
Climate change is a looming threat that includes rising sea levels, unpredictable storms, and the destruction of seaports.[1] Island nations are at risk of economic collapse since they rely on ports for almost all their trade.[2] When Hurricane Dorian struck the...
Climate Resilient Development at the Local Level: Santa Fe’s Midtown Local Innovation Corridor
Santa Fe’s Midtown Local Innovation Corridor (Midtown LINC) draws on the city’s land use authority through City of Santa Fe, New Mexico Ordinance 2016-39 and City of Santa Fe, New Mexico Ordinance 2019-19. These ordinances specify permitted and prohibited uses,...
Climate Resilient Development at the Local Level: Santa Fe’s Integrated Approach to Mitigate Wildfire Risk
The City of Santa Fe, New Mexico, is in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This region contains “frequent-fire forest types,” which the state manages following the New Mexico Forest Restoration Principles. A team of industry professionals developed these...
Climate Resilient Development at the Local Level: Certifying Cities for Achieving Low Impact Development
In this report, low impact development (LID) refers to any land use strategy that promotes the retention or addition of vegetation on or around land development that mitigates and adapts to climate change. LID is often pigeonholed as a stormwater management technique;...
Climate Resilient Development at the Local Level: Learning from Chicago’s Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Strategy
What is ETOD? In recent years, municipalities have used equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD) to incentivize public transit-use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in urban spaces, improve quality of life, and elevate underserved communities. The professional...
Climate Resilient Development at the Local Level: Phoenix Acclimating Desert City Life to the Effects of Climate Change
Municipalities experiencing growth are changing their land developmental strategies in response to the effects of climate change. This is especially true for desert cities that are built on landscapes not meant to maintain large populations. They are challenged,...
Climate Resilient Development at the Local Level: Benefits of Transit-Oriented Development
As populations continue to grow, demand for mixed-use, accessible, and affordable transit options does as well. Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is a growth model characterized by compact development, a mix of land uses, and multi-modal transportation connectivity....
Advancing Transboundary Adaptation and Conflict Reduction Through the Global Goal on Adaptation
Joseph A. Siegel, Adjunct Professor* The historic decision on loss and damage last November at the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27 at Sharm el-Sheikh) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) shined a spotlight on the...
Climate Resilient Development at the Local Level: Parking and Adaptive Reuse
In Paris, France, an urban farming startup has begun using an abandoned parking garage to develop a mushroom farm. Cycloponics, an urban farming startup company, has used the abandoned space to develop a mushroom farm. The farm uses rectangular bales suspended from...
Climate Resilient Development at the Local Level: Addressing the Overabundance of Parking
There are a billion parking spots in the US. For every car in the country, there are four parking spots. Yet, the rise of autonomous ride-hailing vehicles, micro-mobility devices such as electric bikes and e-scooters, public transportation, remote work, online...