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Confronting Climate Change: In California and Beyond
April 7, 2023 @ 9:00 am – 6:15 pm
Law School at UC Davis
King Hall, Room 1001
400 Mrak Hall Dr
Davis, CA 95616
(NOTE: Daily Parking Fee is $10)
Earn 6.25 hours of MCLE Credits
Join us on Friday, April 7, 2023 for the Environmental Law Confronting Climate Change: In California and Beyond.
Please take a minute to review the Climate Change 101 Webinar that ELS held on March 17, 2023 to be prepared for your day at the April 7, 2023 Confronting Climate Change: In California and Beyond Conference.
Intro to Environmental Law Series – Climate Change Law 101 – Watch the recording here!
Pricing
- CLA Members – $75.00
- Non-Section Members – $150.00
- Government, or Non-Profit – $25.00
- Students – $0
Pre-Registration Deadline: The deadline to pre-register is March 31, 2023
Cancellations/Refunds: Requests must be received in writing by March 31, 2023. A $15 processing fee will be charged for requests received after March 31, 2023. For more information, call (916) 516-1757.
On-Site Registration: On-site registration is subject to availability. Call to confirm space availability.
Program Materials: Registrants will receive a link with information on how to review and download the program materials. This website is not available to the public, and access is given only to conference registrants. Late-breaking supplemental materials not available before the conference will be added to the website at a later date.
Special Assistance: For special assistance, please call 916-516-1732
Questions: For registration information call (916) 516-1757. Telephone registrations will not be accepted. For program content and/or Section information call 916-516-1732.
This event may be recorded. By attending this event, you consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded, and to any use, by the CLA, of your likeness, voice, and name in any and all media including social media. If you do not want your name or photo to be used, please let us know in advance. We cannot, however, honor requests to opt out of the use of your image or voice if you choose to ask a question during one of the event sessions.
Agenda
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Conference Registration, Coffee and Pastries
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. | Welcome & Introductions
Speakers:
Dean Kevin Johnson, UC Davis School of Law
Kim Bick, Chair, CLA Environmental Law Section
Ellen Peter, Chief Counsel, CARB
Leuwam Tesfai, Deputy Executive Director for Energy & Climate Policy, CA Public Utilities Commission
9:15 – 9:45 a.m. | Morning Keynote Address: Reflections and Priorities in a Changing Climate
Keynote Speaker:
Yana Garcia, Secretary, CalEPA
Yana Garcia was appointed California Secretary for Environmental Protection by Governor Gavin Newsom in August 2022. In this role, Secretary Garcia oversees the state’s efforts to fight climate change, protect air and water quality, and advance environmental justice. As a member of the Governor’s cabinet, she also advises the Governor on environmental policy.
Prior to her appointment, Secretary Garcia served as Special Assistant Attorney General to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, advising him on legal and policy matters pertaining to the environment, land law, and natural resources, and in various leadership roles at CalEPA focused on environmental justice and tribal affairs. Before her state service, Secretary Garcia was as an attorney for Earthjustice and Communities for a Better Environment, focused on environmental justice, civil rights, land use, toxics and chemical disclosure, oil and gas extraction, and crude transport.
Secretary Garcia is nationally recognized as a groundbreaking environmental leader who has worked hard to uplift voices from disadvantaged communities. She holds a degree in politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law.
9:45 – 11:00 a.m. | Panel #1 – Adapting California to a More Challenging & Unpredictable Climate
This panel will focus on the challenges California faces in adapting to the unavoidable impacts of climate change: rising sea level, megadrought, severe floods, etc. The panel will also address the ways local and regional jurisdictions in California are planning to confront these challenges. Speakers will include representatives from local and federal governments, the insurance industry and other perspectives.
Speakers:
Nuen-Tara Key, WTW Insir/ Consulting & Technology
Krystal Laymon, FEMA
Danielle Ngo, Senior Planner, City & County of San Francisco
Moderator:
Jeannie Lee, Asst. Chief Counsel, CARB
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Panel #2 – Transitioning California to a Carbon-Free Transportation Sector
This panel will address how California should decarbonize its transportation sector, which currently contributes fully 40% of the state’s aggregate greenhouse gas emissions. Panelists will include representatives from the private sector, academia, California regulators and the environmental justice community.
Speakers:
John Boesel, CalSTART
Vivian Rahwanji, Director, Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond
Dan Sperling, Director, Institute for Transportation Studies, UC Davis
Moderator:
Jennifer Helfrich, Center for Law, Energy & the Environment, U.C. Berkeley School of Law
12:30 – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch (provided based on your selection made when registering)
1:00 – 2:15 p.m. | Panel #3 – California’s Climate/Energy Trifecta: CARB, CEC & CPUC
This panel will examine the critical nexus between California’s climate change and energy policies—specifically, how California can transition toward increased reliance on renewable energy resources and away from fossil fuels. Panelists will include attorneys and regulatory officials from the California Air Resources Board, California Public Utilities Commission and California Energy Commission.
Speakers:
Linda Barrera, Chief Counsel, CA Energy Commission
Leuwam Tesfai, Deputy Executive Director for Energy & Climate Policy, CA Public Utilities Commission
Matthew Botill, Division Chief, Industrial Strategies Division, California Air Resources Board
Moderator:
Tom McHenry, Claremont McKenna College
2:15 – 3:30 p.m. | Panel #4 – Assessing Key Patterns in U.S. Climate Change Litigation
This panel will explain and analyze climate change litigation trends in California and throughout the United States. Those trends will include the numerous state common law claims being advanced by state and local governments who seek damages from the fossil fuel industry for harm those jurisdictions have suffered due to a wide array of adverse climate change impacts; theories non-government organizations are utilizing to vindicate their climate change-related interests and concerns; and the numerous constitutional and other theories the regulated community (and some states) are invoking to challenge California’s climate change policies in court. Attorneys from the private, NGO and government sectors will serve as panelists.
Speakers:
Elaine Meckenstock, Deputy Attorney General, CA Department of Justice
Vic Sher, Sher Edling LLP
Kassie Siegel, Director, Climate Law Institute, Center for Biological Diversity
Moderator:
Rick Frank, Professor of Environmental Practice and Director of the California Environmental Law & Policy Center, UC Davis School of Law
3:45 – 5:00 p.m. | Panel #5 – International Climate Change Diplomatic Initiatives
This panel will explore international climate change initiatives with an emphasis on subnational and NGO efforts, highlighting California and equity focused activities. Speakers will highlight coalition building and negotiations at the UN Conference of Parties (COP) and the sustaining efforts in between that enhance this work beyond global events.
Speakers:
Cliff Rechtschaffen, Commissioner Emeritus, California PUC
Jessie Buendia, Vice President of Sustainability & National Director, Green for All , Dream.org
Fan Dai, Director, California-China Climate Institute
Moderator:
Leuwam Tesfai, California PUC
5:00 – 5:15 p.m. | Closing Remarks
5:15 – 6:15 p.m. | Reception
More information coming soon.
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors
Google Calendar We are committed to accessibility! Virtual events are equipped with closed captioning. To request an in-person accommodation, send us a note at accessibility@calawyers.com or contact us at 916-516-1760 for assistance.