Gore to Address Climate Constitutionalism Conference, March 29

The impacts of climate change will place strains on democratic institutions around the world even as people rely on those institutions to mitigate climate impacts and implement just adaptation strategies. In the United States, both the federal and state constitutions must meet this moment to restore a healthy climate while preserving our democracy.

On March 29, scholars, judges and practitioners will gather at Pace University in New York City to discuss these and other themes explored in “Democracy in a Hotter Time” (MIT Press, 2023), edited by David W. Orr. This free, one-day conference will explore federal court rulings, which have restricted the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, to state courts, where rulings such as Held v. Montana demonstrate the potential to support mitigation at the state level.

The conference will conclude with a public town hall, with “report outs” from discussion leaders and designated law review reporters, followed by a moderated keynote discussion with CEE Executive Director Karenna Gore.

The conference is organized by the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and Delaware Law School at Widener University; it is being supported by the JPB Fund and Rockefeller Brothers Fund. CEE is a co-sponsor.

Click here for a full list of panelists, the conference agenda and to register. The conference is free to attend, and lunch is available for purchase.