Environmental Policy & Law

California farmers feel more threatened by climate policy than they do by climate change, according to a new study from the University of California, Davis. The study, published in the journal Global Environmental Change, found that the greatest climate risk Yolo County farmers believe they face in the future is not drought, water shortages, or temperature changes, but government regulations. However, this view did not make them less likely to participate in government incentive programs that would help their climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

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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.

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.

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

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).