The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law develops legal techniques to fight climate change, trains law students and lawyers in their use, and provides the public with up-to-date resources on key topics in climate law and regulation. The center works closely with Columbia University's Earth Institute and with governmental, nongovernmental and academic organizations.
Publications from 2023
Article: Beyond the North–South Divide: Litigation's Role in Resolving Climate Change Loss and Damage Claims, Maria Antonia Tigre and Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh
Article: Developing Model Federal Legislation to Advance Safe and Responsible Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal Research in the United States, Romany M. Webb and Korey Silverman-Roati
Article: Executive Actions to Ensure Safe and Responsible Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal Research in the United States, Romany M. Webb and Korey Silverman-Roati
Article: In California and Europe, a New Dawn for Corporate Climate Disclosure, Magali Delmas, Michael B. Gerrard, and Eric Orts
Article: International Recognition of the Right to a Healthy Environment: What Is the Added Value for Latin America and the Caribbean?, Maria Antonia Tigre
Article: New York Adopts Nation’s Strongest Environmental Justice Law, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: New York Environmental Legislation in 2022, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: New York's Green Amendment: The First Decisions, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: NY, New Jersey Adopt Laws Requiring Flood Risk Disclosure for Homebuyers, Tenants, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: Research Priorities for Climate Litigation, Jessica A. Wentz, Delta Merner, Benjamin Franta, Alessandra Lehmen, and Peter C. Frumhoff
Article: Statehood and Sea-Level Rise: Scenarios and Options, Michael B. Gerrard
Article: Survey of 2022 Cases Under State Environmental Quality Review Act, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: The Legal Case for Equity in Local Climate Action Planning, Amy E. Turner
Article: Transnational Insights for Climate Litigation at the European Court of Human Rights: A South-North Perspective in Pursuit of Climate Justice, Melanie Murcott, Maria Antonia Tigre, and Nesa Zimmermann
Article: Waste and Chemical Management in a 4°C World, Michael B. Gerrard
Book: Global Climate Change and U.S. Law, Michael B. Gerrard, Jody Freeman, and Michael Burger
Paper: Permitting CO2 Pipelines, Martin Lockman
Report: Decommissioning Liability at the End of Offshore Oil and Gas: A Review of International Obligations, National Laws, and Contractual Approaches in Ten Jurisdictions, Martin Lockman, Martin Dietrich Brauch, Esteban F. Fresno Rodríguez, and José Luis Gallardo Torres
Report: Energy Insecurity Mitigation: The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Other Low-Income Relief Programs in the US, Andrea Nishi, Diana Hernández, and Michael B. Gerrard
Report: Expert Insights on Best Practices for Community Benefits Agreements, Matthew Eisenson and Romany M. Webb
Report: Global Climate Litigation Report: 2023 Status Review, Michael Burger and Maria Antonia Tigre
Report: ITLOS Advisory Opinion on Climate Change: Summary of Briefs and Statements Submitted to the Tribunal, Maria Antonia Tigre and Korey Silverman-Roati
Report: Just Transition Litigation in Latin America: An Initial Categorization of Climate Litigation Cases Amid the Energy Transition, Maria Antonia Tigre, Lorena Zenteno, Marlies Hesselman, Natalia Urzola, Pedro Cisterna-Gaete, and Riccardo Luporini
Report: Modelling Climate Litigation Risk for (Re)Insurers, Martin Lockman
Report: Opposition to Renewable Energy Facilities in the United States: May 2023 Edition, Matthew Eisenson
Report: Status Report on Principles of International and Human Rights Law Relevant to Climate Change, Katelyn Horne, Maria Antonia Tigre, and Michael B. Gerrard
Report/Policy Paper: Antitrust and Sustainability: A Landscape Analysis, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment and Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
Report/Policy Paper: Transferred Emissions Are Still Emissions: Why Fossil Fuel Asset Sales Need Enhanced Transparency and Carbon Accounting, Jack Arnold, Martin Lockman, Perrine Toledano, Martin Dietrich Brauch, Shraman Sen, and Michael Burger
Publications from 2022
Article: A Time for Triage, Michael B. Gerrard
Article: Climate Change and Indigenous Groups: The Rise of Indigenous Voices in Climate Litigation, Maria Antonia Tigre
Article: West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency: The Agency's Climate Authority, Michael B. Gerrard, Joanne Spalding, Jill Tauber, and Keith Matthews
Article: Exploring the Bedrock for Earth Jurisprudence, Maria Antonia Tigre
Article: Legislature Expands State’s Jurisdiction Over Freshwater Wetlands, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: Liability for Public Deception: Linking Fossil Fuel Disinformation to Climate Damages, Jessica A. Wentz and Benjamin Franta
Article: New York Environmental Legislation in 2021, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: Reframing Global Biodiversity Protection after COVID-19: Is International Environmental Law up to the Task?, Maria Antonia Tigre, Natalia Urzola, and Victoria Lichet
Article: Regulation of Polyfluoroalkyl Chemicals in New York, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: Three New Federal Laws Aid New York’s Compliance With Climate Goals, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: Who Decides Where the Renewables Should Go?: A Response to Danielle Stokes’ Renewable Energy Federalism, Michael B. Gerrard
Paper: A Pause on Proof-of-Work: The New York State Executive Branch's Authority to Enact a Moratorium on the Permitting of Consolidated Proof-of-Work Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities, Jacob Elkin
Paper: Climate Science in Adaptation Litigation in the U.S., Jacob Elkin
Paper: Helping New Jersey State Agencies and Departments Align Their Actions with GHG Reduction Mandates and Environmental Justice Principles, Jennifer Danis and Zoe Makoul
Paper: The Carbon Market and its Regulation in Brazil, Gabriel Wedy, Weber Amaral, and Cacia Pimentel
Report: Evaluating Climate Risk in NEPA Reviews: Current Practices and Recommendations for Reform, Romany M. Webb, Michael Panfil, Stephanie H. Jones, and Dena Adler
Report: Incorporating Climate Change in NEPA Reviews: Recommendations for Reform, Michael Burger, Romany M. Webb, and Jessica A. Wentz
Report: Opposition to Renewable Energy Facilities in the United States: March 2022 Edition, Hillary Aidun, Jacob Elkin, Radhika Goyal, Kate Marsh, Neely McKee, Maris Welch, Leah Adelman, and Shane Finn
Report: Permitting Seaweed Cultivation for Carbon Sequestration in California: Barriers and Recommendations, Korey Silverman-Roati, Romany M. Webb, and Michael B. Gerrard
Report: Removing Carbon Dioxide Through Artificial Upwelling and Downwelling: Legal Challenges and Opportunities, Romany M. Webb, Korey Silverman-Roati, and Michael B. Gerrard
Report: Removing Carbon Dioxide Through Ocean Fertilization: Legal Challenges and Opportunities, Korey Silverman-Roati, Romany M. Webb, and Michael Gerrard
Publications from 2021
Article: Emerging State-Level Environmental Justice Laws, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: Global Southerners in the North, Ama Francis
Article: How Biden’s Environmental Policies Will Affect New York, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: Legal Pathways to Biden's Climate Goals, Michael B. Gerrard
Article: Migrants Can Make International Law, Ama Francis
Article: Next Mayor Will Inherit Job of Implementing 2019 Law Setting Building Emissions Caps, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: Potential Tensions Between New York’s Climate Change Laws and Historic Preservation Laws, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: Presidential Progress on Climate Change: Will the Courts Interfere With What Needs to Be Done to Save Our Planet?, Michael B. Gerrard
Article: Review of 2020 Cases Under SEQRA, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: Smart Surfaces, Smart Cities: Reducing Heat and Promoting Equity in Urban Areas, Hillary Aidun
Article: Taking from States: Sovereign Immunity's Preclusive Effect on Private Takings of State Land, Jennifer Danis and Michael Bloom
Article: The Law and Science of Climate Change Attribution, Michael Burger, Jessica A. Wentz, and Radley Horton
Paper: Attribution Science in Takings Litigation, Daniel J. Metzger
Paper: Climate Attribution Science and The Endangered Species Act, Jessica A. Wentz
Paper: Climate Change and Innovation in Brazil: Threats and Opportunities, Gabriel Wedy and Cacia Pimentel
Paper: Global Governance of Environmental Mobility: Latin America & the Caribbean, Ama Francis
Paper: The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s Environmental Justice Promise, Hillary Aidun, Julia Li, and Antonia Pereira
Paper: The Law of Enhanced Weathering for Carbon Dioxide Removal: Volume 2 – Legal Issues Associated with Materials Sourcing, Romany M. Webb
Paper: U.S. Climate Litigation in the Age of Trump: Full Term, Korey Silverman-Roati
Report: Cities Climate Law: A Legal Framework for Local Action in the U.S., Amy E. Turner and Michael Burger
Report: Opposition to Renewable Energy Facilities in the United States, Hillary Aidun, Radhika Goyal, Kate Marsh, Neely McKee, and Maris Welch
Report: Principles of International Law and the Adoption of a Market-Based Mechanism for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Shipping, Hillary Aidun, Daniel J. Metzger, and Michael B. Gerrard
Report: Removing Carbon Dioxide Through Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement and Seaweed Cultivation: Legal Challenges and Opportunities, Romany M. Webb, Korey Silverman-Roati, and Michael B. Gerrard
Report: Removing Carbon Dioxide Through Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement: Legal Challenges and Opportunities, Romany M. Webb, Korey Silverman-Roati, and Michael B. Gerrard
Report: Removing Carbon Dioxide Through Seaweed Cultivation: Legal Challenges and Opportunities, Korey Silverman-Roati, Michael B. Gerrard, and Romany M. Webb
Report: The Legal Framework for Offshore Carbon Capture and Storage in Canada, Romany M. Webb and Michael B. Gerrard
Report: Using New York Law to Advance Equity in the Transportation & Climate Initiative Program, Hillary Aidun, Ama Francis, and Michael B. Gerrard
Publications from 2020
Article: An Environmental Lawyer's Fraught Quest for Legal Tools to Hold Back the Seas, Michael B. Gerrard
Article: Biden Administration Will Reverse Many Trump Environmental Policies, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: Climate Change, Coming Soon to a Court Near You – Report Three: National Climate Change Legal Frameworks in Asia and the Pacific, Dena Adler, Hillary Aidun, Michael Burger, Ama Francis, Briony Eales, and Maria Cecilia T. Sicango
Article: Climate Change, FERC, and Natural Gas Pipelines: The Legal Basis for Considering Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act, Romany M. Webb
Article: Direct Air Capture: An Emerging Necessity to Fight Climate Change, Michael B. Gerrard
Article: How Agency Science is Under Threat, Romany M. Webb
Article: Legal Tools for Achieving Low Traffic Zones (LTZs): LEZ, ULEZ & Congestion Pricing in the U.S. Law Context, Amy E. Turner
Article: New York Can Lead World in Fighting Climate Change, Michael B. Gerrard
Article: New York Environmental Legislation in 2019, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: New York’s New Statute on Siting Renewable Energy Facilities, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: Sabin Center Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Plan, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
Article: The Law and Science of Climate Change Attribution, Michael Burger, Jessica A. Wentz, and Radley Horton
Article: The Perils of Relying on FEMA Flood Maps in Real Estate Transactions, Michael B. Gerrard and Edward McTiernan
Article: The Role of Lawyers in Decarbonizing Society, Michael B. Gerrard
Article: When Politics Trump Science: The Erosion of Science-Based Regulation, Romany M. Webb, Lauren Kurtz, and Susan Rosenthal
Paper: After Madrid, W[h]ither the COP?, Susan Biniaz
Paper: Climate Financing Options: An Assessment for Columbia World Project – Ghana Household Energy, Ama Francis
Paper: Legal Levers For Cleaner Air in Kolkata: An Assessment of Local Legal Authority, Ama Francis
Paper: The Contact Group on Somali Piracy: An Unlikely Model for Protecting the Environment?, Susan Biniaz
Paper: The Law of Enhanced Weathering for Carbon Dioxide Removal, Romany M. Webb
Report: Climate Change, Coming Soon to a Court Near You – Report Four: International Climate Change Legal Frameworks, Maria Cecilia T. Sicango
Report: Climate Change, Coming Soon to a Court Near You – Report One: Report Series Purpose and Introduction to Climate Science, Briony Eales
Report: Climate Change, Coming Soon to a Court Near You – Report Two: Climate Litigation in Asia and the Pacific and Beyond, Briony Eales, Ama Francis, Michael Burger, Romany M. Webb, Jessica A. Wentz, Dena Adler, Gregorio Rafael P. Bueta, and Francesse Joy J. Cordon-Navarro
Report: Climate Recommendations For a New Democratic President and a New Congress: A Compilation, Clara Grieder and Jordan Gerow