Environmental Policy & Law

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Southern California beaches with storm drain diversion systems attract millions more people annually, a new study in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin shows. The study looked at whether improving the environmental quality of coastal areas through policy intervention had an effect on the way people use coastal areas. Researchers found a direct correlation between increased attendance and the installation of storm drain diversions at 26 beaches in Santa Monica Bay and Malibu.

Legal & Policy Pathways for Energy InnovationApril 24-25, 2013University of Minnesota Watch the video

Gina McCarthy’s nomination to head the Environmental Protection Agency was stalled late last week in the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee, after a GOP boycott of a hearing. But while McCarthy is expected to eventually win confirmation, the administration of President Barack Obama is fighting back. The latest annual review from the Office of Management and Budget shows the benefits of EPA rules far exceed their costs.

Hundreds of billions of dollars in the developing world are funding subsidies for fossil fuel energy, including petroleum, electricity, and natural gas. Joseph Aldy, assistant professor of public policy, is currently research the economic and environmental impacts of these subsidies. He presented a snapshot of his latest research during an Energy Policy Seminar on Monday (March 25).

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, one thing is striking: the extent to which many of the best and first responders have been local. From Brooklyn down to the Jersey Shore, Sandy has left its mark. But now, stories abound of community groups shoveling sand out of living rooms, feeding and housing the homeless, and arranging online help through listservs and crowdfunding. Somehow, communities have married the best of old-fashioned neighborliness to 21st century networking — resulting in a steady flow of local energy against a sea of devastation.

Natural ecosystems provide essential services for our communities. Forests and wetlands, for example, filter the water we drink, protect neighborhoods from floods and droughts, and shade aquatic habitat for fish populations.