October 16-19

Welcome to the 34th Annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite® reception sponsored by Greenberg Glusker LLP and Sonoma Technology.  RSVP Required. 

All are encouraged to join a casual afterparty with s’mores and brown beverages sponsored by and poured by Nixon Peabody LLP at the firepits at the Tenaya Lodge. Bring a beverage to share or your smile and welcome each other to the conference while reconnecting with friends old and new.

Start your day with a delightful cup of coffee!

RSVP for this complimentary breakfast on the registration form.

Leaders from the Associated Tribes of Yosemite National Park and other tribal members will mark the start of the conference with an opening blessing. All are welcome to observe, but no photography or video recording will be permitted.

Please join for Conference Opening Remarks with CLA Executive Director Chris Nguyen, CLA Board Chair and ELS Board Representative Jessi Fierro, and ELS Chair Miles Hogan, and for the presentation of the 2025 ELS Trailblazer Award to Communities for a Better Environment.

Speakers:

• Miles Hogan – Chair, Environmental Law Section Executive Committee
• Chris Nguyen – Chief Executive Officer, California Lawyers Association
• Jessi Fierro – Chair of the California Lawyers Association Board of Representatives

Communities for a Better Environment

The Environmental Law Section is pleased to present the second annual Trailblazer Award to Communities for a Better Environment. Founded in 1978, CBE was one of the nation’s first environmental justice organizations. Much of CBE’s work was innovative for its time, and while today other organizations adopt similar models strategically combining community organizing, legal advocacy, and research to improve conditions in the communities with whom they work, CBE’s “triad” approach, employing deep, place-based community organizing, research, and legal on its staff remains rare. In addition to successfully empowering generations of youth and adult residents in low-income communities of color and achieving pollution reductions at oil refineries and drill sites, manufacturing facilities, power plants, CBE’s legal cases have also shaped the legal landscape with dozens of reported decisions.

Today, CBE’s pilot legal apprenticeship program reflects the innovation the Trailblazer Award seeks to celebrate. The program is aimed at preparing its community advocates to become attorneys without completing a formal law school education (thus avoiding the high costs that often accompany law school). Its first advocate passed the initial bar admission test in fall 2024 and is on track to take the bar examination in three years. CBE’s legal apprentice pilot is already a model for other non-profits and is an extension of CBE’s community capacity-building.

Please join Secretary Yana Garcia, California Secretary for Environmental Protection, for the opening plenary. 

Speaker:

• Yana Garcia, California Secretary, Environmental Protection

Session 2.1 – Recent Environmental Law Developments in the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals & California Supreme Court
1.5 Hours MCLE
This always popular panel will review the key environmental law decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals and the California Supreme Court from the past year.  Additionally, the panel of distinguished Supreme Court/appellate environmental practitioners and law professors will analyze currently pending environmental cases in these courts, along with their legal and policy implications.  The panel will also focus on the ever-growing volume of environmental cases being litigated between the State of California and the Trump Administration.

Moderator: Richard Frank, Professor of Environmental Practice and Director of the California Environmental Law & Policy Center, UC Davis School of Law

Speakers:

• Cara Horowitz, Andrew Sabin Family Foundation Executive Director, Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, UCLA School of Law
• Sam Harbourt, Supervising Deputy Solicitor General, California Department of Justice
• Sanjay Narayan, Chief Appellate Counsel, Sierra Club

Session 2.2 – Water Meets the Tax Revolt: Constitutional Issues in Public Financing of Water-Related Services and Projects
1.5 Hours MCLE
Fiscal politics and related legal developments have profound impacts on environmental law, but like the fish that has trouble describing the water, the fiscal environment of environmental law is often ignored. A series of voter initiatives amended California’s constitution to restrict local governments’ ability to raise revenues (such as through taxes or fees) and to require the State to reimburse local agencies for their efforts to implement new “unfunded mandates,” creating obstacles to adequately funding environmentally crucial infrastructure. An adversarial dynamic between the State and local governments and a complicated body of law has continued to unfold in the courts over decades, with environmental and environmental justice effects. This panel will examine the cumulative effects of Propositions 13 (1978), 4 (1979), 218 (1996), and 26 (2010) on financing for local water management in California, illustrating the implications for four scenarios: (1) setting water service rates to encourage conservation; (2) the human right to water, water district consolidation issues, and affordability; (3) funding municipal stormwater management and other water quality efforts; and (4) financing local groundwater management projects and programs under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. 

Moderator: Lutfi Kharuf, Partner, Best Best & Kreiger

Speakers:

• Claire Collins, Partner, Hanson Bridgett
• Michael Claiborne, Directing Attorney, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability
• Jeremy Jungreis, Partner, Rutan

Session 2.3 – Fact or Fiction: Examining the Narrative that Environmental Laws Conflict with Housing Development
1.5 Hours MCLE
This panel will discuss whether California’s need for affordable housing can be harmonized with environmental laws and local zoning to improve the quality of life and safety of all communities within the state. Recognizing that environmental laws, such as CEQA, are an important environmental justice tool in providing one of the few opportunities for communities’ voices to be heard during the approval process, this panel will explore what trade-offs are being made to make way for housing development. Is there an inherent conflict between environmental laws, local zoning regulations, and housing development, or is that a myth? Does enforcement of these laws make building housing and especially affordable housing too expensive, or are other factors at play? The panel will discuss recent legislation that has impacted environmental laws and local zoning, whether these efforts have been successful in solving our affordable housing crisis, and whether there are better solutions available.  

Moderator: Katie McKeon, Staff Attorney, Western Poverty Law Center

Speakers:

• Sabrina Venskus, Founding Partner, Venskus & Associates
• Ben Metcalf, Managing Director, Terner Center for Housing Innovation, UC Berkeley
• Susan Hori, Partner, Manatt

Session 2.4 – Mobile Sources, Moving Targets: California’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Goals and Federal Pushback
1.5 Hours MCLE
California leads the nation with mandates for phasing out internal combustion engines starting in 2035, for passenger vehicles and eventually trucks and other sources. This panel will provide an update on the broad sweep of California’s zero-emission vehicle policies and how they are faring in the face of federal pushback, including from congressional action, Trump Administration agency moves, and litigation. It will also discuss the state of the market for both zero-emission vehicles and the charging and fueling infrastructure they need, as well as what policies the state could pursue going forward to achieve its mobile source decarbonization goals. 

Moderator: Ethan Elkind, Director, Climate Program, Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, UC Berkeley Law

Speakers:

• Pippin Brehler, (Appearing in personal capacity) Assistant Chief Counsel, California Air Resources Board
• Caitlan McLoon, Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice
• Yasmine Agelidis, Senior Attorney, Earthjustice

Session 3.1 – Is NEPA Dead? Seven County, CEQ Regulations, and the role for CEQA and other state NEPAs
1.5 Hours MCLE
This panel will address recent efforts to streamline NEPA and exempt various federal actions from NEPA review. The panel will cover the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, et al. v. Eagle County Colorado Supreme Court decision and its likely repercussions for NEPA litigation and the scope of environmental review. Panelists will also discuss how, if at all, state NEPAs, including CEQA, can fill any gaps that emerge. 

Moderators:

• Jeannie Lee, Assistant General Counsel, California Environmental Protection Agency
• Gideon Kracov, Mediator 

Speakers:

• Jayni Hein, Of Counsel, Covington
• Amy Coyle
• Jamie Jefferson, Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice

Session 3.2 – New Developments in Transmission Permitting in California
1.5 Hours MCLE
This panel will explore the newly enacted General Order (GO) 131- E, which modernizes the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) rules for building the transmission we need for the energy transition. Based largely on a multi-stakeholder settlement proposal developed by utilities, eNGOs, and consumer advocates, the new general order seeks to build transmission more efficiently and cost-effectively while balancing natural resource protection. This is the first update in nearly 30 years to the rules that govern transmission development which will significantly help California meet its climate goals.  

Moderator: Laura Zagar,  Partner, Perkins Coie

Speakers:

• Commissioner Karen Douglas, California Public Utilities Commission
• Estela de Llanos, Vice President Land and Environmental Services, Chief Sustainability Officer, San Diego Gas & Electric Company
• Sarah Kozal, Senior Counsel, California Independent System Operator

Session 3.3 – Wildfire Debris Removal: Balancing Speed and Protectiveness
1.5 Hours MCLE
Before communities can begin rebuilding from wildfires, they must remove debris, of which there may be a great deal, including items as varied as dead trees, structural remains, and contaminated soils. The debris removal process involves numerous agencies and requires balancing a need to move quickly against the need to preserve public health and environmental protections. It presents complex legal and operational questions about exactly what debris to remove, where to take it, and who to consult with. This panel will explore those questions while drawing lessons from the Eaton and Palisades fires and examining the impact of Trump Administration policy changes around emergency management. 

Moderator: Carl DeNigris, Assistant Chief Counsel, Legal Affairs, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

Speakers:

• Delia Sharpe, Staff Counsel, California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
• Jane Williams, Executive Director, California Communities Against Toxics
• Mica Llerandi, Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Director, Tribal Legal Development Clinic, UCLA School of Law

Session 3.4 – Climate Adaptation, Resilience, and Sea Level Rise: Who Pays for Climate Adaptation
1.5 Hours MCLE
It is difficult to communicate the severity of climate change’s far reaching and unequally distributed impacts in a way that makes effective adaptation and mitigation feel tangible. Quantifying the costs of climate change can help bridge this gap by defining the problem and possible solutions in a language that is accessible to policymakers and that more precisely conveys the price of inaction. This panel will focus on one slice of climate change impacts: sea level rise and flooding. Relying on Imperial Beach as a case study, the panelists will discuss the damage wrought by increased flooding and extreme weather events and explore how local governments can fund long-term solutions.  

Moderator: Alice Kaswan, Professor at University of San Francisco School of Law

Speakers:

• Dr. Juliette Finzi Hart, Principal Researcher, Thalassa Research Institute
• Ameya Gehi, Staff Attorney, Conservation Law Foundation

Conference attendees and their guests may choose to join in hikes and other outdoor activities. Persons who have registered for the Conference will be notified of the activities that have been scheduled and how they can register in advance for these unique and informative presentations. Please note that space is limited. Learn more about the activities today.

In the wake of the devastating January 2025 Los Angeles fires, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath recognized the imperative need to rebuild safe, sustainable communities. In February, she assembled a Blue Ribbon Commission of experts across a variety of disciplines, tasked with providing actionable recommendations for how the region could recover from the fires resiliently, with a mind toward the inevitability of future climate-driven disasters and the realities of an environment where brush wildfires can quickly become urban conflagrations. In conversation with Gideon Kracov, Supervisor Horvath will talk more about her vision for the Commission and for regional progress toward survivable, climate-conscious rebuilding.

Speakers: 

• Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles County Supervisor 
• Gideon Kracov, Mediator 

Join us for the fantastic evening event in the Sequoia Grove area at the Tenaya Lodge for a night of music with a tribal cultural presentation by the Bishop Paiute Tribe followed by live bluegrass from Yoseff Tucker and the Bowties, along with a tasty BBQ including chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs and a vegetarian chili! Everyone can come enjoy the music at no cost, but if you want to participate in the BBQ, your tickets must be purchased in advance. To help accommodate more people and those enjoying the outdoors, we have two seating time options! Music sponsored by Roux.

Seating Option 1: 5:00 – 6:30 PM

• Adult Ticket – $47
• Kids Ticket – Free with the purchase of an adult ticket

Seating 2 Option 2: 6:30 – 8:00 PM

• Adult Ticket – $47
• Kids Ticket – Free with the purchase of an adult ticket

Start your day with a delightful cup of coffee!

Law students are invited to grab breakfast and bring it to the Counties Room for an informal welcome reception. Meet other students, learn about conference resources, and get to know Environmental Law Section leaders while chowing down.

Please join President Alice Reynolds from the California Public Utilities Commission for our Saturday plenary. 

Speaker:

• Alice Reynolds, President, California Public Utilities Commission

Session 5.1 – CEQA Update
1.5 Hours MCLE
This panel of CEQA practitioners representing petitioners, lead agencies, and real parties in interest will present the annual update on the latest CEQA developments and discuss in detail key CEQA cases from the past year, summarizing the published cases, outlining trends, and providing a brief update on recent legislation. 

Moderator: Sarah Hoffman, Associate, Venable

Speakers:

• Alicia Guerra, Shareholder, Buchalter
• Janelle Smith, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice
• Jaclyn Prange, Senior Litigating Counsel, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Session 5.2 – Where’s the Valve? The Interconnected California State Water Project and Federal Central Valley Project: Emerging Conflicts and the Path Forward
1.5 Hours MCLE
This past year, media accounts of California’s water systems have sometimes included claims that water deliveries from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta were reduced because of a “little fish” and that simply “opening the valve” could prevent disasters like the January 2025 Los Angeles fires. The new federal administration has also undertaken actions that may modify the balance between the state and federal water projects that serve large portions of California. While these projects are generally operated to benefit their contractors, they must comply with state and federal laws, and coordinated operation improves reliability and can also provide environmental and other benefits. This panel provides an overview of California’s major water infrastructure and the legal framework for its operation, exploring historical conflicts, current controversies, and new opportunities for better coordination to meet the state’s water supply and environmental needs. 

Moderator: Rebecca Akroyd, General Counsel, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority

Speakers:

• Karl Stock, Former Regional Director, California-Great Basin Region, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
• Chandra Sekhar Chilmakuri, Assistant General Manager for Water Policy, State Water Contractors
• Ashley Overhouse, Water Policy Advisor, Defenders of Wildlife

Session 5.3 – “Green” Energy Development and Tribal Lands
1.5 Hours MCLE
California is a national and global leader in the transition away from a fossil fuel economy, with significant investments in offshore wind and EV/battery development. Developing these resources necessarily impacts Tribal lands and sites sacred to California and Nevada’s Native communities. This panel will center the perspectives of Tribal members whose communities and environments are directly affected by lithium mining and offshore wind projects that are being developed to support national and statewide clean energy goals.

Moderator: Dr. Elizabeth Hidalgo Reese, Professor & Graduate Advisor, Stanford University

Speakers:

• Elizabeth Huber, Supervisor, California Energy Commission
• Michon Eben, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
• Sam Cohen, Government Affairs & Legal Specialist, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians

Session 5.4 – Resilient Rebuilding After the Fires
1.5 Hours MCLE
California has faced unprecedented fires in recent years that have destroyed entire communities and thousands of structures. These events underscore the urgent need to not only rebuild but to reimagine how and where we build, how and what kind of energy should be delivered to rebuild communities, and whether insurance companies should be required to pay for reconstruction.  This panel will open the dialogue on the efficacy of rebuilding resilient communities or simply rebuilding quickly to get people back into permanent housing, energy delivery opportunities and controversies, and who pays for reimagined neighborhoods. 

Moderator: Cecilia Estolano, CEO and Founder, Estolano Advisors

Speakers:

• Josh Lappen, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Notre Dame, Keough School of Global Affairs
• Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Board of Supervisors, County of Los Angeles
• Abre’ Conner, Director, Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Session 6.1 – Roundtable: “They tried to bury us; they did not know we were seeds.” Community Resilience for Environmental Justice.
1.5 Hours MCLE, Implicit Bias
This roundtable will be a discussion among environmental justice advocates and practitioners, including NGOs and agencies that work on environmental justice issues, and will give context as to what is occurring at the federal level. We will explore the state of environmental justice in light of federal rollbacks and how advocates and decision makers are continuing uplift environmental justice principles. This roundtable will satisfy the MCLE requirement regarding implicit bias.

Moderator: Jennifer Ganata, Co-Legal Director at Communities for a Better Environment

Speakers:

• Amy Castañeda, Policy Co-Director of Land & Justice, Environmental Health Coalition
• Cliff Villa, Professor of Law, The University of New Mexico, School of Law
• Gladys Limón, Director of Climate and Environmental Justice, State Energy & Environmental Impact Center, NYU School of Law

Session 6.2 – Uplifting State and Local Government Opportunities for Climate Action
1.5 Hours MCLE
California law requires that the state continue to achieve ambitious climate emission reductions in the face of federal retrenchment on—and even hostility to—climate regulation.  State and local policymakers therefore continue to innovate to reduce climate emissions quickly.  This panel will highlight and discuss some of the most effective and durable state and municipal strategies being pursued in California to reduce climate emissions, focusing on three categories of actions: those by state agencies, those available to cities as an exercise of land use and planning authority, and those that utilize California’s robust air quality regulatory tools.  The panel will pay particular attention to opportunities to achieve benefits for disadvantaged communities. 

Moderator: Cara Horowitz, Andrew Sabin Family Foundation Executive Director, Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, UCLA School of Law

Speakers:

• Winter King, Partner
• Adriano Martinez, Director, Earthjustice

Session 6.3 – Chiquita Canyon Landfill – When the Environmental Externalities of Municipal Waste Heat Up
1.5 Hours MCLE
The Chiquita Canyon Landfill is a municipal solid waste landfill in Southern California experiencing a subsurface elevated temperature event. Approximately 90 acres of non-hazardous disposed waste is smoldering underground, generating excess leachate with hazardous waste constituents and releasing noxious gases and foul odors. The reaction is anticipated to persist for years. The panel will use the case study of the Chiquita Canyon Landfill to discuss the overlapping local, state, and federal regulation of municipal solid waste landfills, to explore what can happen when environmental problems “heat up,” including the public health and environmental impacts, and to consider the adequacy of existing legal tools to address these wide-ranging, multi-media concerns. 

Moderator: Linda Lye, Former Deputy Secretary for Law Enforcement and General Counsel, California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)

Speakers:

• Thanne Berg, Deputy Director, Site Mitigation and Restoration Program, California Department of Toxic Substances Control
• Deborah Fox, Principal, Meyers Nave
• Christine Wolfe, Director of Government Affairs, California, Hawaii, and Nevada, Waste Management

Session 6.4 – New California Environmental Legislation, Trends and Direction
1.5 Hours MCLE
The California Legislature continues to pass groundbreaking environmental laws, which are often adopted nationally and internationally.  During the 2025 legislative session, the Governor signed a number of new environmental quality, natural resources, CEQA, and land use laws.  This panel will be a discussion to update practitioners on the new statutory developments impacting their practice areas.  Join our panel of seasoned legislative staffers for a timely discussion of newly enacted legislation, with a special focus on legislative accomplishments and trends for the future. 

Moderator: Gary Lucks, Partner, Bay Law Group

Speakers:

• Kip Lipper, Chief Policy Advisor on Energy and Environment, Senate pro Tempore, California State Senate
• Genevieve Wong, Principal Consultant, California State Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
• Christine Miyashiro, Consultant, California State Assembly, Budget Committee

Conference attendees and their guests may choose to join in educational outdoor programs. Please note: Space is limited, and some presentations may include a short hike. Persons who have registered for the Conference will be notified of the presentations that have been scheduled and how they can register in advance for these unique and informative presentations. Learn more about the activities today.

The Environmental Law Section presents its twelfth annual Lifetime Achievement Award to Ellen M. Peter for her invaluable contributions to environmental law and policy in California

Recipient: Ellen M. Peter, Retired Chief Counsel of the California Air Resources Board

Join us as we gather before dinner for cocktails and appetizers. RSVP on the registration form.

Please join Chairwoman Violet Sage Walker of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council for the dinner program.

Saturday Banquet Details:

• Adult Ticket: $83 Choose Fish, Beef or Vegetarian (limited Vegan options)
• Child Ticket: $47 (Pasta dinner)

A big thank you to our dinner sponsors GSI Environmental; SCS Engineers; and Farella. 

Delicious delicacies complete the evening. Enjoy dessert, hosted libations, and dancing at the Annual Dessert Party. RSVP on the registration form.

A big thank you to our Dessert Party Sponsor GHD.

Start your day with a delightful cup of coffee!

Please join Gina McCarthy, First White House National Climate Advisor and former U.S. EPA Administrator for our Sunday plenary. 

Speaker: Gina McCarthy, First White House National Climate Advisor and former U.S. EPA Administrator

Session 8.1 – Putting Up a Fight: California’s Environmental Litigation Against the Second Trump Administration
1.5 Hours MCLE
California leads the litigation charge against the second Trump administration’s environmental policies and priorities. This panel will provide an overview of the litigation efforts touching on climate, air, water, and electrification and offer insights from the trenches.

Moderator: Carrie Schilling, Senior Assistant Counsel, Bay Area Air Quality Management District

Speakers:

• Elaine Meckenstock, Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice
• Anna Naimark, Deputy Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)
• Kevin Poloncarz, Partner, Covington & Burling LLP
• Kirti Datla, Director of Strategic Legal Advocacy, Earthjustice

Session 8.2 – What the F-bomb: Climate Pollutants You’ve Never Heard Of
1.5 Hours MCLE
Refrigerants, or F-Gases, are used everywhere from home AC to ice rinks to data centers and supermarkets. Yet, these refrigerants are thousands of times more potent at warming the climate than carbon dioxide (CO2), and cause emissions throughout their life cycle – in production, filling, service, leaks, and at end-of-life. What laws and regulations exist in California and at the federal level to respond to these risks? What changes can be expected with a new administration and Congress?

Moderator: Brian Gaffney, Senior Attorney, California Air Resources Board

Speakers:

• Dr. Richie Kaur, Senior Super Pollutant Reduction Advocate, Climate & Energy, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
• Tristam Coffin, Co-founder and President, êffecterra, inc
• Danielle Wright, Executive Director, North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council

Session 8.3 – Energy Storage at a Crossroads
1.5 Hours MCLE
California’s climate goals depend on a rapid scaling of energy storage, which can capture clean energy when renewable resources like solar are most abundant during the day and shift its usage to nights and evenings. Over 25 times as much energy storage capacity was on the grid in 2024 as in 2018, and the state needs 38,000 megawatts (MW) of new capacity to meet its 2045 target of 52,000 MW. But in the wake of a significant fire at the world’s largest battery energy storage facility in Moss Landing, CA, local elected officials and residents of communities with or considering battery storage sites have been left with many questions. This panel will discuss how new codes and standards, like the new General Order (GO) 167- C from the California Public Utilities Commission fire safety training can ensure California remains on track to meet its energy storage needs to meet California’s climate goals in a manner that is safe and reliable for its communities. 

Moderator: Le Quyen Nguyen, Deputy Secretary for Energy, California Natural Resources Agency

Speakers:

• Tim Spears, Assistant Deputy Director, CalFire
• Christine Jun Hammond, General Counsel, California Public Utilities Commission
• Scott Murtishaw,  Executive Director California Energy Storage Alliance, California Energy Storage Alliance

Session 8.4 – Wildfire Risks and Evacuation Planning Under CEQA – California’s New Normal
1.5 Hours MCLE
Wildfires have escalated to a new level in California. California is experiencing an affordable housing crisis, but new development in areas prone to wildfires can raise issues including increased wildfire risks and the adequacy of emergency evacuation routes. This panel will discuss Bonta v. County of Lake and other decisions addressing wildfire impacts under CEQA, the Attorney General’s Best Practices for Analyzing and Mitigating Wildfire Impacts of Development Projects Under the California Environmental Quality Act, as well as regulations and legislative updates related to evaluating wildfire risks and evacuation planning. The discussion will address the challenges of analyzing a project’s potential to increase wildfire risks and how agencies can best comply with CEQA’s disclosure and mitigation mandates. 

Moderator: Justin Zucker, Of Counsel, Patterson & O’Neill

Speakers:

• Peter Broderick, Senior Attorney, Center for Biological Diversity
• Chip Wilkins, Partner, Remy Moose Manley
• Nicole Rinke, Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice

Session 9.1 – No Way to Recycle Our Way Out of Plastic Pollution
1.5 Hours MCLE
Global production of plastic has topped over one trillion pounds per year, and 33 billion pounds of plastic enters the ocean annually. This panel will answer the question: why do we care about plastic, and how are we dealing with it from a policy and litigation standpoint? Speakers will present on the status of health risk studies, current California policies, California’s lawsuit against ExxonMobil, and the status of litigation nationwide to fight the plastic pollution problem.

Moderator: Julia Stein, Deputy Director, Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, UCLA School of Law

Speakers:

• Dave Edwards, Ph.D., Chief Deputy Director, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Stacy Lau, Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice
• Robin Stafford, Associate General Counsel, Recology

Session 9.2 – Holding the Line: Philanthropy’s Role in Advancing Climate Justice
1.5 Hours MCLE
In the face of federal retrenchment on climate change, and with the unprecedented amount of resources devoted to climate-related philanthropy here in California, can and should foundations fill the gap left by the federal government in finding solutions to our ever-growing climate crisis? What are the opportunities and threats to foundations as they fund a just transition to a clean energy future? 

Moderator: Suma Peesapati, Bay Area Air Quality Management District

Speakers:

• Michelle DePass, Marin Community Foundation
• David Beckman, Pisces Foundation
• Bruce Nilles, Executive Director, Climate Imperative Foundation

Session 9.3 – Environmental Cost of AI Data Centers
1.5 Hours MCLE, Technology in the Practice of Law
Data centers are currently responsible for roughly 2% of global electricity demand. The amount of energy consumption is expected to more than triple by 2030. This remarkable growth is due in large part to the explosive expansion of artificial intelligence. But what are the hidden costs of this expansion? What are the impacts in terms of energy consumption, water use, air and noise pollution, and community growth? And how will these impacts be regulated? This panel will examine these issues from the point of view of California regulators, local government, and data center providers. 

Moderator: Jon Welner, Partner, Crowell Moring

Speakers:

• Sanjay Ranchod, Chief Counsel, California Energy Commission
• Afshan Hamid, Community Development Director, City of Santa Clara
• Pamela Quinlan, Principal, GQS New Energy Strategies

Session 9.4 – Tribal Leadership on California’s Rivers: Successes and Setbacks
1.5 Hours MCLE
Tribes continue to lead the fight to protect California’s river ecosystems, as well as their own rights to access and use surface water for their lifeways. This panel will center tribal perspectives on this work, with a focus on Klamath River restoration, the Yurok Tribe’s litigation with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation over Klamath River flows, the Tule River Tribe’s conservation and restoration efforts and water rights settlement negotiations with the federal government, and the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation’s efforts to reestablish Tribal stewardship of private lands near Yosemite National Park. The panel will also share a state perspective on managing California’s water rights system alongside tribal and federal rights. 

Moderator: Jazzmyn Gegere, Director of Cultural Resource Preservation, Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation 

Speakers:

• Amy Bowers Cordalis, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group
• Charmaine McDarment, Council Member and former Chairperson, Tule River Tribal Council
• Samantha Olson, Attorney IV, State Water Resources Control Board