ENVI 319
The Law and Policy of Climate Change Spring 2025
Division II

This course explores the legal frameworks that guide climate change mitigation efforts and adaptation strategies. This course builds on knowledge gained in the fall semester Environmental Law and Policy course, but will also refresh the basic tenets of environmental law. After a brief introduction to climate change and its projected impacts, we review the legal framework of international climate change law, including the evolution of climate change-related laws in the United States and related litigation. This analysis focuses on the federal level but also considers the separate authority of states and municipalities to take action. Massachusetts and Boston are the primary case studies for the course, but other state examples will inform our classes on non-federal policy-making. In addition to learning about the substantive legal issues covered in the course, students develop or practice legal research skills associated with researching statutes and regulations and interpreting judicial decisions. Students gain experience with activities relevant to designing and implementing climate change policy by writing comments on regulations, drafting statutory or regulatory language, and writing corporate climate change statements.