34th Annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite® Recap

The 34th Annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite^®, held October 16–19, 2025, at the Tenaya Lodge near Yosemite, brought together almost 800 attorneys, policy-makers, agency representatives and environmental professionals for four days of legal education, networking, and outdoor experiences, with the added excitement of a light blanketing of snow.

This year’s conference opened with the presentation of the Trailblazer Award to Communities for a Better Environment, recognizing its innovative legal and organizing work in environmental justice.

The plenary sessions featured high-level speakers including Secretary Yana Garcia (California Secretary for Environmental Protection) on Friday morning, President Alice Reynolds (California Public Utilities Commission) on Saturday morning,  and Gina McCarthy (First White House National Climate Advisor and former EPA Administrator) in conversation with Liane Randolph (Former California Air Resources Board Chair) on Sunday.

Beyond the conference-room sessions, attendees enjoyed nature-based afternoon activities: hikes, a mountain bike ride, a dog walk, and educational presentations such as “Giant Sequoias and the Washburn Fire,” as well as evening events like the Bluegrass BBQ, a tribal performance, and the fireside chat with Lifetime Achievement Award winner Ellen M. Peter.

Keep an eye out for a request for panel ideas this fall as we start planning for the 2026 Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite^®.