Dismantling Environmental Law
Summary
Stanford Law Professor Debbie Sievas discusses the tension between "climate abundance" and current deregulation efforts, arguing that environmental permitting is not the primary barrier to renewable energy expansion. She critiques the Supreme Court's recent rulings that weaken citizen suits and agency authority, warning that removing public participation undermines democratic oversight. Sievas proposes a "concrete proposal" centered on deeper community engagement to build durable, locally supported environmental policies. The conversation also covers the administration's use of the Defense …
Topics discussed
Intro: Balancing environmental policy and infrastructure needs
Show introduction and guest welcome
Defining the concept of 'Climate Abundance'
Debunking the myth that regulations block energy projects
The real challenges of modernizing the US power grid
Political bias against renewables and fossil fuel subsidies
Supreme Court rulings and the rollback of NEPA
Administrative law whiplash and the major questions doctrine
Logging in Alaska and the threat to old-growth forests
Climate attribution and the 2024 El Niño event
Proposal: Enhancing environmental democracy over deregulation
Implementing community engagement at local and state levels
Sponsor break: Amicus Slate podcast
Misuse of the Defense Production Act for energy projects
Citizen suits and the Musk data center lawsuit in Mississippi
Inspiring the next generation of environmental lawyers
Clinic project: Tribal land stewardship in California
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