California Environmental Law and Policy Center

The California Environmental Law & Policy Center has three overarching and interrelated objectives. First, the Center serves as the focal point of King Hall’s longstanding commitment to environmental law and policy for law students and faculty alike. It brings to the law school community numerous environmental speakers, conferences, symposia, convenings and other events. The Center facilitates student involvement in off-campus environmental law and policy initiatives, such as environmental moot court competitions, externships in public and private environmental law offices, and contacts with environmental policymakers.

Second, the Center participates in interdisciplinary environmental research and policy initiatives across the UC Davis campus, throughout the University of California system, and in collaboration with other law schools, colleges and universities across the nation and overseas. Examples include interdisciplinary partnerships with UC Davis’ Center for Watershed Sciences and Institute for Transportation Studies; UCLA Law School’s Emmett Center on Climate Change & the Environment; the UC Centers in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.; the Vermont Law School; and the Georgetown University Law Center.

Last but certainly not least, the California Environmental Law & Policy Center focuses on translating its environmental scholarship into effective public policy at the regional, state, national and international levels. It does so through the publication of white papers and research findings; presentation of expert testimony before legislative and regulatory bodies, authorship of law review articles, op-ed pieces and similar publications; providing training on key environmental issues for attorneys, judges and legislators; convenings of public policymakers to discuss and debate cutting-edge environmental issues; ongoing partnerships with such organizations as the California League of Cities, the Environmental Law Institute and the Conference of Western Attorneys General; and related policy initiatives. The Center’s environmental research and policy priorities include climate change law and policy; water allocation in the American West; property rights; environmental governance questions; renewable energy; and green technology.