Guarini Center

Carbon Prices at Universities? Insights from Yale University’s Experience
2018-03-29 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | NYU School of Law, Vanderbilt Hall, Faculty Library, 40 Washington Square South, New York, NY, 10012, United States
In 2017, Yale University adopted an internal carbon charge across its campus, becoming one of the first universities in the United States to do so. Under Yale’s pioneering program, buildings throughout the university are charged $40 per ton of carbon dioxide that is emitted as a result of the energy they consume. On March 29th, the Guarini Center will host Casey Pickett, Director of Yale’s Carbon Challenge, for a conversation about the lessons learned from Yale’s early experiences with carbon pricing and whether such a scheme is appropriate for adoption at other universities throughout the country.
1 credit of CLE in the Areas of Professional Practice category

Featured Speakers:
Casey Pickett, Director, Yale University’s Carbon Charge; former Director for Innovation, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
In conversation with:
Katrina Wyman, Sarah Herring Sorin Professor of Law, New York University School of Law
and
Danielle Spiegel-Feld (’10), Executive Director, Guarini Center on Environmental Energy & Land Use Law, New York University School of Law

The Natural Gas Forecast: Legal, Political and Economic Factors Affecting Gas Generation in the US
2018-04-30 18:30 - 20:00 | NYU School of Law, Greenberg Lounge, 40 Washington Square South, New York, NY, 10012, United States
The outlook for natural gas fired generation across America defies easy prediction. With record levels of production ongoing, the EIA expects that prices will remain low in 2018, which should support the continued ascendance of gas generation. At the same time, a number of states have introduced policies that could bolster alternative forms of generation and reduce the market share for gas. On April 30th, the Guarini Center will host a distinguished group of energy industry experts for a discussion about how these various legal, political and economic factors are impacting the outlook for natural gas fired generation across the United States.
1.5 credits of CLE in the Areas of Professional Practice category

Speakers include:
Robert Mancini (’84), Managing Director and Co-Head of Carlyle Power Partners
Thaddeus Miller, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Legal Officer, Calpine Corporation
Gary Rygh, Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Securities
Michael Shenberg (’85), Partner, White & Case LLP (moderator)

This event is hosted in collaboration with White & Case LLP

Greening America’s Data Centers
2018-10-16 18:30 - 19:45 | NYU School of Law, D’Agostino Hall, Lipton Hall, 108 West 3rd Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
The data centers that power our search engines, social media sites and so much more contribute about 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is about same amount as the airline industry. As our digital appetite grows, these emissions could increase substantially if concerted action is not taken. At this upcoming event, industry experts will explore challenges and opportunities to reducing data centers’ carbon footprint to put us on a path towards a more sustainable future. Among other questions, we will consider the appropriateness of regulatory solutions to improve sustainability.
1 credit of CLE in Areas of Professional Practice

For background reading on this topic, please see: Joseph R. Brisca, Data Transmission and Energy Efficient Internet Data Centers, 67 Am. U. L. Rev. 233 (2017).

Speakers include:
John Clinger, Technical Specialist, Energy Efficiency, ICF International
Kenny Habul, Chief Executive Officer, SunEnergy1
Sadiq Malik, Principal, Digital Bridge
Vanessa Miler-Fels, Renewable Energy Strategist, Microsoft
Elizabeth Stein (’03), Senior Manager of New York Clean Energy Law & Policy Program, Environmental Defense Fund (moderator)
Brian Thomas, Business Architect, Growth & Sustainability, Equinix (keynote speaker)
This event is hosted in collaboration with ING

Speakers biographies:
John Clinger
John Clinger works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the lead technical consultant in the development of eligibility criteria for several ENERGY STAR information technology and data center products. This work includes recent specification development in the computer server, data center storage, computer and networking product categories. John also represents EPA in the development of energy efficiency criteria in several IEEE, NSF, UL and ASHRAE industry standards. Moreover, he manages ICF’s ENERGY STAR product development team which develops eligibility criteria for over 70 product categories.
In addition, John recently concluded four years of management of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Better Buildings Data Center Challenge and Accelerator programs, partnering with private sector and federal government organizations to reduce infrastructure energy use in their data centers.
John holds an M.S. in electrical engineering and B.C.E. in computer engineering from the University of Delaware.
Kenny Habul
Kenny Habul, SunEnergy1’s CEO and President, is a native of Australia. Kenny has been involved in PV (PV) solar and solar thermal since 1996 and has since established himself as a leader in the field of sustainable construction technologies. Prior to forming SunEnergy1, Kenny was a partner in Habul Brothers Luxury Home Construction, one of the most prominent and innovative builders in Queensland, Australia. Kenny has vast experience in commercial and residential construction and formed a passion for sustainable construction practices and solar energy. Kenny holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Bond University in Australia.
Sadiq Malik
Sadiq Malik is a Principal at Digital Bridge Holdings, LLC. Mr. Malik is a seasoned investment professional with in-depth investing experience in private, distressed and public equities across a variety of industries.
Prior to joining Digital Bridge in 2017, Mr. Malik was a co-founding partner of Oskie Capital, a public and private equity firm, which invested in companies undergoing positive business transformations and corporate change. During his time there, Mr. Malik led Oskie’s investments in the communications infrastructure space including datacenters and satellite operators and was also involved in Oskie’s cable investments.
Before Oskie Capital, Mr. Malik worked on President Obama’s Auto Task Force at the U.S. Department of the Treasury during the financial crisis in 2009. In this role, he helped take General Motors through its bankruptcy reorganization, which remains the largest industrial bankruptcy in U.S. history. After its completion, Mr. Malik helped the head of the Auto Task Force, Steven Rattner, chronicle the experience in a book titled “Overhaul: An Insider’s Account of the Obama Administration’s Emergency Rescue of the Auto Industry”.
Prior to working for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Mr. Malik was an investment professional at Och-Ziff Capital (2007-2008), The Blackstone Group (2003-2005) and Morgan Stanley (2000-2003).
Mr. Malik earned an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School in 2007 and a BA, summa cum laude, in Economics from Dartmouth College in 2000.
Vanessa Miler
Vanessa is a Renewable Energy Strategist at Microsoft’s Cloud Infrastructure and Operations, she works on energy strategy, renewable energy procurement and investment. 10+ years of experience in unlocking capital for renewable energy and environment projects in EMEA and emerging markets. Experience across the public and private sectors. Former senior adviser on climate finance and negotiations at the French Ministry of Finance. French and Indian national, graduate of Sciences-Po Paris and the ENA – Ecole Nationale d’Administration.
Elizabeth Stein
Elizabeth Brooke Stein is an attorney in EDF’s Clean Energy Program, focusing on the development of a low-carbon energy system.
Elizabeth engages in state and regional proceedings to advocate for the promulgation of technology and practices that improve the flexibility and performance of the electric system, and enable the full deployment of more low-carbon resources, including low-carbon demand response and intermittent renewable resources. Since 2012, Elizabeth and her colleagues in EDF’s New York office have been working to ensure that the post-Sandy transformation of New York’s electric system is built on a foundation of resiliency and sustainability, not just durability.
Brian Thomas
Brian has been an integral part of Equinix’s journey to be the leading global data center and interconnection service provider. Since joining the Company in 2005 he has witnessed the stock appreciate thirteen-fold from $30 to $430. While at Equinix Brian has had the unique privilege of reporting to the CFO, COO, CEO and Executive Chairman while playing pivotal roles in the areas of Finance, Strategy, Culture and Sustainability. Prior to Equinix, Brian was an investment banker with Citigroup in London, Singapore, New York and San Francisco. During his nine years at Citigroup he advised clients in the Technology, Health Care and Consumer Products sectors on a range of M&A and Capital Markets transactions. In between his management and advisory experiences, Brian spent a couple of years being a self-employed entrepreneur which involved experiments in Real Estate, Hand-loom Silk and Documentary Film.
Brian’s academic pursuits were in international development, with a focus on market and outward oriented development policies. He earned an M.Phil. in the Economics and Politics of Development from the University of Cambridge and a B.A. in Economics and Politics from Willamette University. His inclination to lifelong education has drawn him to learning opportunities in Finance, Management, Technology, Design, Sustainability and Well-being.
Brian is a product of the colonial influence in India. His was born into a Syrian Christian and Portuguese Catholic family from Kerala and raised in Mumbai where he was educated at a British Anglican institution, Cathedral and John Connon School. With a professional lens, Brian views himself as an accidental capitalist. What moves him is long-term value, social impact and truthful storytelling. In his personal life, he can be found raising a family, enjoying the outdoors and consuming media.

Expanding Electric Vehicles in New York City
2018-11-27 18:30 - 20:00 | NYU School of Law, Greenberg Lounge, 40 Washington Square South, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Please join the Guarini Center and a group of experts from industry, government and NGOs for a discussion on “Expanding Electric Vehicles in New York City”.
To achieve its ambitious climate goals, New York City will need to aggressively reduce the number of gasoline powered vehicles on the roads, which currently contribute roughly thirty percent of city-wide emissions. Transitioning towards electric vehicles will almost certainly be part of the solution. Yet, to date, the rollout of electric vehicles (EVs) in the city has been relatively slow. At this upcoming event, experts will examine the legal and economic obstacles that have hindered the expansion of EVs in New York City to date and how to overcome such obstacles.
1.5 credit of CLE in Areas of Professional Practice

Speakers:
Noah Garcia, Transportation Policy Analyst, Climate & Clean Energy, Natural Resources Defense Council
John Markowitz, Lead Energy Services Product Development Engineer, New York Power Authority
Jen Roberton, Transportation Policy Advisor, New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability
John Shipman, Dept. Manager, Electric Vehicles Program, Con Edison
Jacob J. Worenklein (’73), Chairman & CEO, US Grid Company & Chairman, Ravenswood Power Holdings
Katrina Wyman, Sarah Herring Sorin Professor of Law, NYU School of Law (moderator)

This event is sponsored by Ravenswood Power Holdings

Pipeline Wars: The Battles Over Gas Infrastructure Development
2019-02-06 18:30 - 20:00 | NYU School of Law, D’Agostino Hall, Lipton Hall, 108 West 3rd Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
The business of building oil and gas pipelines in America used to be quiet. No longer. While Keystone XL and Dakota Access may have claimed most of the headlines, almost every major pipeline project is now a legal battleground between the industry and activist groups. Many of the current fights erupted in Eastern states as a host of new pipeline projects move forward to link the Marcellus and Utica shale gas fields to power stations and homes across the densely populated East Coast. The legal objections to new natural gas pipelines frequently invoke the downstream impact of additional fossil fuel infrastructure on climate change. Our distinguished panelists represent different perspectives in these pipeline wars and promise an engaging discussion.
1.5 credit of CLE in Areas of Professional Practice
Speaker Information:
Paul Hartman, Senior Policy Advisor, Midstream & Industry Operations, American Petroleum Institute
Jeff Makholm, Managing Director, NERA Economic Consulting
Jeremy Marwell, Partner, Vinson & Elkins LLP
Moneen Nasmith, Staff Attorney, Earthjustice
Robert Seber, Partner, Vinson & Elkins LLP; Adjunct Professor of Law, NYU School of Law (moderator)
Avi Zevin (’13), Staff Attorney, Institute for Policy Integrity

This event is hosted in collaboration with Vinson & Elkins LLP

Industry Perspectives on Climate Change Regulation
2019-05-02 18:30 - 20:00 | NYU School of Law, D’Agostino Hall, Lipton Hall, 108 West 3rd Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Please join the Guarini Center and a group of distinguished energy industry experts for a discussion on climate change regulation.
Panelists will provide their thoughts on the pros and cons of a number of proposed or implemented policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions including federal carbon taxes, carbon adders to be administered by independent system operators, renewable energy mandates and more.
1.5 credit of CLE in Areas of Professional Practice

Speakers:
Madison F. Grose, Vice Chairman, General Counsel, & Senior Managing Director, Starwood Energy Group
Catherine James, Vice President and General Counsel, Kinder Morgan
Jim Larocque, Principal, The Carlyle Group
Thaddeus Miller, Executive Vice Chairman & Chief Legal Officer, Calpine
Michael Shenberg (’85), Partner, White & Case (moderator)

This event is sponsored by White & Case

Arctic Environmental and Climate Change Governance
2019-06-11 - 2019-06-12 | Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen, Njalsgade 76, DK-2300, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Third International TRAMEREN conference seeks to explore environmental governance in the Arctic by examining institutions, actors and interactions in emerging issues in Arctic ocean governance, such as conservation of marine living resources, the use of the marine Arctic for extractive industries, climate change impacts, and maritime transport issues.
Building on the 2016 I TRAMEREN Conference on Maritime Transport and Climate Change and the 2018 II International TRAMEREN Conference on Frontiers in Ocean Environmental Governance, the III TRAMEREN Conference aims to explore pressing environmental and climate-related issues in the Arctic.
Among others, the conference aims to address the following questions:

What are the different institutional approaches to Arctic environmental governance at the international, regional and national level? How do they interact?
What is the role of non-state actors and indigenous communities in Arctic environmental and climate change governance?
What efforts can foster the coordination of the conservation and sustainable use of living and non-living resources in the Arctic?
How does climate change impact governance challenges, and what has been done to support adaptation/mitigation?

The agenda for the conference can be found here. For questions about the conference, or if you are interested in attending, please contact Bryce Rudyk.

Curbing Cars: A Transatlantic Dialogue on New Urban Mobility
2019-09-05 18:30 - 20:00 | NYU School of Law, Vanderbilt Hall, Faculty Library, 40 Washington Square South, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Cities’ reliance on motor vehicles imposes myriad public health and environmental challenges. In New York City, for example, officials estimate that fine particulate matter pollution from motor vehicles contributes to 320 premature deaths in New York City each year, which is approximately the same number as die from homicide. In Germany, the situation is not much better. In fact, approximately 70 German cities violated EU air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide emissions last year and automobiles have been largely blamed for the problem. To remedy the situation, policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic are experimenting with a range of strategies — from bans on diesel engines, to congestion pricing schemes — to encourage new forms of urban mobility. Yet they are encountering a series of obstacles along the way. At this upcoming event, experts from Germany and New York City will discuss options for lessening cars’ grip on transportation and challenges that lie ahead.
1 credit of CLE in Areas of Professional Practice

Keynote address:
Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert,
Department Head, Energy, Transportation, Environment, German Institute for Economic Research

Discussion to follow with:
Thomas Matte, Senior Lecturer, Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health
Jen Roberton, Transportation Policy Advisor, New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability
Danielle Spiegel-Feld, ’10, Adjunct Professor and Executive Director, Guarini Center

This is event has been made possible by the generous support of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany New York

Reforming CEQR: Improving Mitigation under the City Environmental Quality Review Process
2019-12-05 | NY
On December 5th, the Guarini Center, in collaboration with the Municipal Arts Society and the Regional Plan Association held a roundtable meeting with experts from across New York City to examine opportunities for reforming City Environmental Quality Review. This workshop was generously supported by the New York Community Trust. The results of the roundtable meeting will be published in early 2020.

Getting to Net Zero? Evaluating Pathways Towards New York State’s Climate Goals
2020-02-03 18:30 - 20:00 | NYU School of Law, D’Agostino Hall, Lipton Hall, 108 West 3rd Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
In July of 2019, New York State enacted the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The State’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% within 10 years and 85% within 30 years, with the ultimate goal of net zero emissions. These milestones will require a fundamental transformation not only of the energy, transportation and real estate industries, but also on the level of individual households. Our panel of experts from government, industry, law, and the environmental community will discuss potential pathways for achieving these ambitious goals and the challenges the State will have to contend with along the way.
Please register here.

Speakers (in formation):
Daniel Egan, Senior Vice President, Energy & Sustainability, Vornado Realty Trust
Richard Kauffman, Chairman, NYSERDA; Adjunct Senior Research Scholar, Columbia Global Center for Energy Policy
Richard Miller (’87), Vice President, Con Edison
Maritza U.B. Okata, Partner, Vinson & Elkins
Robert Seber (moderator), Partner, Vinson & Elkins; Adjunct Professor, NYU School of Law
Elizabeth Stein (’03), Senior Manager & Senior Attorney, Clean Energy Program, Environmental Defense Fund

This event is hosted in collaboration with Vinson & Elkins LLP

NYU on NYC: The Future of Our City After COVID
2020-06-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Webinar
Join leading NYU scholars for a webinar on imagining the future of New York City in a post-COVID world.
Please register here.

Speakers
Ingrid Gould Ellen, Paulette Goddard Professor of Urban Policy & Planning; Faculty Director, Furman Center
Robert L. Hawkins, Assistant Dean & McSilver Associate Professor of Poverty Studies, Silver School of Social Work
Eric Klinenberg, Professor of Sociology, Helen Gould Shepard Professor in Social Science, Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge
Paul Romer, University Professor; Director, Urbanization Project; Recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Economics
Carl Weisbrod, Senior Fellow, Marron Institute; Senior Advisor, HR&A Advisors
Katrina Wyman, Sarah Herring Sorin Professor of Law; Deputy Faculty Director, Guarini Center

This event is hosted in collaboration with The Furman Center at NYU.

Electrifying Buses in New York City: Insights from Québec
2020-06-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Webinar
An international leader in vehicle electrification, Québec has committed to a suite of ambitious measures to decarbonize its transportation sector. For instance, the city of Montreal has pledged to acquire only electric vehicles for public transit beginning in 2025 — several electric buses are already on the road — and Québec has joined CALSTART’s “Drive to Zero” pledge, which aims to transition to a fully zero-emission bus and truck fleet by 2040. New York City has indicated its own aspirations to shift toward electric transit and school buses as well but is still in the early stages of doing so. This event will explore what lessons Québec can provide, in order to further advance the transition to electric buses in New York City.
Speakers:
Marie Bedard, Director of Strategy and Operations, The Lion Electric Co.
Angela Hotaling, Program Director, New York League of Conservation Voters
Ari Kahn, Project Specialist, Electric Vehicle Demonstration Projects, Con Edison
Benjamin Mandel, Northeast Regional Director, CALSTART
Pascal Renaud, Director of Studies, Société de transport de Montréal
Renae Reynolds, Transportation Planner, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance
Ellen Rosen, Freelance Journalist (moderator)
This event is has been made possible by the generous support of the Québec Government Office in New York.

Carbon Trading for Buildings? Insights from the German Emissions Trading Program
2020-09-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Webinar
In the fall of 2019, Germany adopted novel climate legislation that calls for the establishment of a trading program for carbon emissions from the transportation and building sectors. The new law, which has already generated substantial controversy, will take effect in 2021. Pursuant to Local Law 97 of 2019, New York City is considering adopting an emissions trading program of its own. At this upcoming event, experts from Germany and New York City will share insights on the opportunities and challenges of developing carbon trading programs for these sectors, focusing on buildings.
Zoom link to be provided after registration. Please register here.

Speakers:
Dr. Brigitte Knopf, Secretary General of Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (Keynote Address)
Nicole Abene, Senior Legislative Attorney at New York City Council
Austen Brandford, Senior Legislative Counsel at New York City Council
Christopher Halfnight, Associate Director, Policy at Urban Green (Moderator)

This program has been made possible by the generous support of the Consulate General of Federal Republic of Germany in New York

Decarbonizing the Downstate Grid: Three Transformational Clean Energy Projects
2020-09-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Webinar
With the Indian Point nuclear facility scheduled to close next year, the downstate region that has relied on it for so long will be left facing a serious issue in its fight against climate change. Without an acceleration of clean energy and storage projects in the near term, the region risks increasing its reliance on fossil fuel generated power, degrading local air quality and undermining its fight against climate change.
Join us for this unique event during Climate Week NYC 2020 to examine new major clean energy projects that will collectively reshape the downstate grid within the next 5 years and over several decades to come.
Speakers:
Julia Bovey, Equinor
Jennifer Garvey, Orsted
Martin Imbleau, Hydro-Québec
Jamil Khan, Ravenswood Generating
Catherine Loubier, Delegate General of Québec
Danielle Spiegel-Feld, Guarini Center
Julie Tighe, NY League of Conservation Voters (Moderator)
This event is jointly hosted with the Québec Government Office in New York.

The Future of the Regulatory State: In Celebration of Richard Stewart’s 50th Year of Teaching
2021-01-12 10:00 - 18:30 | Virtual Webinar
In fall 1971, Richard Stewart began teaching at the Harvard Law School. In the intervening 50 years, he has written seminal papers in administrative and environmental law, served in the US government, conducted law reforms efforts around the world and become a globally renowned legal scholar.
Join us as we celebrate Dick’s fifty years of teaching and his indelible impact on administrative and environmental law and global governance.
This day-long virtual workshop will bring together leading scholars to examine the future of the regulatory state and the impact on administrative, environmental and international law.

10:00 – 10:20 am
Welcome Remarks

10:20 – 11:50 am
Panel 1- Administrative Law
Moderator: Rachel Barkow (NYU)
Panelists: E. Donald Elliott (Yale), Daniel Esty (Yale), Jerry Mashaw (Yale), David Schoenbrod (NYLS), and Cass Sunstein (Harvard)

12:00 – 1:30 pm
Panel 2 – Environment Law
Moderator: Richard Revesz (NYU)
Panelists: Lisa Heinzerling (Georgetown), Libby Dimenstein (Harvard) (for Richard Lazarus & Libby Dimenstein), and Jonathan B. Wiener (Duke)

2:30 – 4:00 pm
Panel 3 – Global Governance
Moderator: Philippe Sands (University College London)
Panelists: Sabino Cassese (Rome), Kristina Daugirdas (Michigan), Benedict Kingsbury (NYU), and Michael Oppenheimer (Princeton)

4:10 – 5:40 pm
Panel 4 – Applications to Practice
Moderator: Jane Stewart, ’79
Panelists: Annie Petsonk (Environmental Defense Fund), James Tripp (EDF), and George Van Cleve (Department of Justice)

5:40 – 6:00 pm
Response from Dick Stewart

6:00-6:30 pm
Reflections with Justice Stephen Breyer
A Conversation between Justice Stephen Breyer, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States and Professor Richard Stewart

Back to the Future: Energy Policy in the Biden Administration
2021-02-10 16:30 - 18:00 | Virtual Webinar
President Joe Biden has pledged to pursue a starkly different energy policy than the prior administration. Among other things, Biden has promised to dramatically curb methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, cut fossil fuel subsidies, and put the US on a path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Achieving these goals will require sweeping changes to federal energy and environmental laws. At this upcoming panel discussion, experts from industry, law and the environmental community will assess what steps the Biden Administration can or should to take to implement these reforms and the obstacles that it may encounter along the way.

Speakers:
Bethany Davis Noll, Executive Director at The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law
Margaret Peloso, Partner, Vinson & Elkins
Stephen Richardson, Senior Managing Director, Evercore
Robert Seber, Partner, Vison & Elkins; Adjunct Professor, NYU School of Law (moderator)
Starla Yeh, Director, Policy Analysis Group, Climate & Clean Energy Program, NRDC

This program has been made possible by the generous support of Vinson & Elkins, LLP.

Urban Agriculture in New York City: Assessing Options for Expansion
2021-03-31 12:30 - 13:30 | Virtual Webinar
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the value of urban agriculture, especially that produced in community gardens, as many New Yorkers faced increased food insecurity and nearly all sought refuge in outdoor spaces. Yet, despite the great value of urban agriculture, New York City lacks a comprehensive plan to promote it and many community gardens are under threat. At this upcoming event, speakers will assess the state of urban agriculture in New York City and policies that should be developed to help it thrive.
Speakers:
Nicole Baum, Director of Business Development and Partnerships, Gotham Greens
Aziz Dehkan, Executive Director, New York City Community Gardens Coalition
Iyeshima Harris, Program Director, East New York Farms!
Surbhi Sarang, Associate Attorney, Earthjustice
Rick Elbaum (LLM ’20), Board Member, Scenic Hudson (moderator)

Land Use Planning in the Next Mayoral Administration: A Look at Proposed Reforms
2021-04-15 12:30 - 13:30 | Virtual Webinar
Though often overlooked, New York City’s land use policies fundamentally impact the City’s economy, environmental footprint, and the quality of life for its 8 million plus inhabitants. The City Council has recently introduced a proposal to make sweeping changes to the City’s land use planning processes, including moving towards a more centralized approach. Advocates have called for a variety of further changes to be made including reforming the way the City reviews the environmental impacts of proposed rezonings and major development projects. At this upcoming event, stakeholders with varying vantage points will discuss the merits of these different proposals and the decisions that the next mayoral administration will need to make.

Speakers:
Elena Conte, Senior Fellow, Pratt Center for Community Development
Bruno Daniel Garcia, Coalition Strategist, Communities Resist Inc.
Noah Kazis, Legal Fellow, NYU Furman Center
Eric Kober, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute
Marcel Negret, Senior Planner, Regional Plan Association
Spencer Williams, Director of Advocacy, Municipal Arts Society
Adalene Minelli, Legal Fellow, NYU Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law (Moderator)

This event has been made possible through the generous support of the New York Community Trust.

Pathways to Grid Decarbonization: The Generator’s Perspective
2021-06-09 12:30 - 13:30 | Virtual Webinar
Last month, the Biden Administration announced a target for the US to reduce emissions by 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 and to completely decarbonize the electricity grid by 2035. Achieving these targets will require many generators to make sweeping and rapid changes. At this upcoming event, industry experts will share their reactions to the policy shift including their views on the challenges and opportunities for achieving the stated goals.
Register here.

Speakers:
Harold W. Bulger III, Counsel, White & Case
James Larocque, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group
Caleb Stephenson, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations, Calpine Corp
Christina Scalzo, Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategy, Vistra Energy
Michael Shenberg, ’85 Partner, White & Case (Moderator)

This event has been made possible through the generous support of White & Case.

Meatless Cities: A Workshop on How Cities Can Help Lead the Transition to a Plant-Forward Food System
2021-06-15 - 2021-06-16 | Virtual Webinar
By invitation only.
Reducing meat consumption can help to improve human health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as other forms of environmental damage, and limit the suffering of animals raised as livestock. Cities have an opportunity to help facilitate a societal transition towards a plant-forward food system, however, there are uncertainties about the limits of their authority to enact certain policies and open questions about the benefits and drawbacks of different approaches. This workshop will bring together academics, policymakers, industry professionals, and other experts to explore potential strategies that local governments can employ to reduce the consumption of meat within their jurisdictions.
During four sessions over the course of two days, this workshop will explore four types of strategies that cities may turn to: economic incentives, informational policies, procurements policies, and bans, boycotts, and divestments. Attendees may elect to join any one or more of these sessions.
This workshop will take place virtually via Zoom. Please refer to this page for any updates.

Day 1 | June 15, 2021
12:00 – 12:30 PM
Introductory Panel – Breaking Down the Arguments for Limiting Meat Consumption
There are a myriad of environmental, ethical, and health reasons for why cities may be interested in reducing their meat consumption. This opening panel will introduce the project and set the stage for the upcoming discussions by outlining arguments for limiting our meat consumption and explaining why we believe it’s essential to consider the scope of cities’ authority to encourage a shift towards plant-based diets.
Speakers:

Jeff Sebo, Clinical Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, NYU
Katrina Wyman, Sarah Herring Sorin Professor of Law, NYU

12:30 – 1:30 PM
Session 1: Exploring Strategies for Local Action Part I – Economic Incentives
Moderator: Katrina Wyman, Sarah Herring Sorin Professor of Law, NYU
While no cities or states in the United States have implemented a “meat tax” or other similar charges, several other countries, including Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, have considered introducing such measures, and some recent academic literature has presented them as effective options for reducing meat consumption. This panel will discuss the potential for introducing economic incentives to influence consumer choices by altering the price of meat, as well as some of the concerns and challenges associated with such incentives.

Background Materials

1:30 – 2:30 PM
Session 2: Exploring Strategies for Local Action Part II – Informational Policies
Moderator: Danielle Spiegel-Feld, Executive Director, Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy, and Land Use Law, NYU
Cities around the world have introduced policies aimed at raising public awareness about the benefits of limiting meat consumption, including through Meatless Monday resolutions, labels, informational campaigns, and local climate action plans. This panel will discuss the introduction and effectiveness of these informational policies, and their potential for expansion.

Background Materials

Day 2 | June 16, 2021
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Session 3: Exploring Strategies for Local Action Part III – Procurement Policies
Moderator: Adalene Minelli, Legal Fellow, Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy, and Land Use Law, NYU
Procurement policies aim to reduce the amount of meat and dairy products that a city purchases, and push for facilities to explore and provide alternative offerings. Many cities have already adopted the Good Food Purchasing Program or similar initiatives, and have introduced such policies in government buildings, schools, hospitals, and other institutions. This panel will discuss the proliferation and effectiveness of these procurement policies and other options for using procurement to effectively encourage a transition away from meat.

Background Materials

1:00 – 2:00 PM
Session 4: Exploring Strategies for Local Action Part IV – Bans, Boycotts & Divestments
Moderator: Jeff Sebo, Clinical Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, NYU
Although we have not yet seen any general bans on meat products, several cities have introduced targeted bans on certain types of animal products such as foie gras. Moreover, many cities have mandated emissions reductions, including food-related emissions, and some, such as NYC, have introduced resolutions to divest from agricultural industries for their role in accelerating climate change. This panel will explore the potential for bans, boycotts, and divestments in reducing meat and dairy consumption in cities, as well as some of their potential challenges.

Background Materials

This workshop is made possible by the generous support of The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy.

Decarbonizing the Downstate Grid: Taking Stock of Progress
2021-09-23 12:30 - 13:30 | Virtual Webinar
In 2019, New York State committed itself to decarbonizing the state’s electricity grid by 2040. This goal may be particularly difficult to meet in New York City, where fossil fuels presently supply most of the electricity that is available. At this upcoming event, experts from government, industry, and non-profits will discuss the challenges that officials face in decarbonizing the City’s electricity supply and the progress that has been made to date.
Register here.

Speakers:
Martine Hébert, Delegate General, Québec Government Office in New York
Susanne DesRoches, Deputy Director, Infrastructure & Energy, New York City Office of Resiliency and Sustainability
Cullen Howe, Senior Renewable Energy Advocate, Natural Resources Defense Council
Peter Rose, Director, Stakeholder Relations New York, Hydro-Québec
Anne Reynolds, Executive Director, Alliance for Clean Energy New York
Justin Gundlach, Senior Attorney, Institute for Policy Integrity

This event has been made possible through the generous support of the Québec Government Office in New York.

Towards Plant-Forward Diets: A Toolkit for Local Leadership
2021-10-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Webinar
As public awareness grows about the health, environmental and animal welfare benefits of reducing meat consumption, a number of cities around the United States have started to take action to encourage a shift towards plant-forward diets. With a new administration poised to take office in New York City, the time is ripe to take stock of these initiatives and consider what further measures New York City can and should adopt. At this upcoming panel discussion, experts from government, academia and NGOs will evaluate the progress that cities have made to date and discuss a potential agenda for advocates and government to pursue going forward.
Register here. Read our new policy brief on this issue here.

Speakers:
Rachel Atcheson, Assistant to the President, Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, Eric L. Adams
Nilang Gor, Founder, Cultivate Empathy for All; Senior Scientist, Process Development, Catalyst Biosciences
Danielle Spiegel-Feld, Executive Director, Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law
Chloe Waterman, Senior Program Manager, Climate-Friendly Food Program, Friends of the Earth
Dan Zarrilli, Special Advisor, Climate & Sustainability, Columbia University

Moderated by:
Dale Jamieson, Professor of Environmental Studies and Philosophy, Affiliated Professor of Law, Affiliated Professor of Medical Ethics, New York University

This event has been made possible by the generous support of The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy.

Small Group Discussion: Propertizing Environmental Attributes
2021-12-02 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Webinar
This event will bring together a small group of experts from academic, industry, and government to discuss Katrina Wyman & Adalene Minelli’s forthcoming article, Propertizing Environmental Attributes.
Check back to this event page for future updates and event-related materials.
By invitation only.

Unpacking the LL97 Carbon Trading Study
2021-12-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Webinar
NYU just released the highly anticipated carbon trading study required by New York City’s Local Law 97. The study is the first comprehensive modelling assessment of the costs and benefits of this groundbreaking law, and of the feasibility of a potential carbon trading program for buildings.
Join Urban Green and the NYU study team for a deep dive on the findings, including that with the right design carbon trading can deliver deeper GHG and air pollution savings and greater investment in NYC buildings citywide and in environmental justice communities. Register here.

Speakers (in formation):
Chris Halfnight, Director of Policy, Urban Green Council (moderator)
Mary Jiang, Senior Analyst, HR&A Advisors
Kasparas Spokas, Associate, The Brattle Group
Danielle Spiegel-Feld, Executive Director, Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law, NYU

This event is co-hosted by the Urban Green Council.

Private Equity and Energy Transition
2022-03-08 16:30 - 18:00 | Virtual Webinar
The decarbonization goals set by national governments and international alliances require massive capital, much of it to come from private funds. Private capital, however, does not get invested to achieve policy goals, it gets invested to earn returns. Our panel of experts will discuss the role and opportunities for private equity in the energy transition, the return expectations of investors, policies that facility (or impede) the flow of private capital, and the transition of legacy energy-focused private equity firms themselves in their investment strategies.

Moderator
Robert Seber, Partner, Vinson & Elkins LLP; Adjunct Professor, NYU School of Law

Panelists
Eliot C. Cotton, General Counsel, Decarbonization and Credit, Riverstone LLC
Diana Glassman, ESG Leader & Director-Engagement, EOS at Federated Hermes
Adam Klein, Partner & Head of Climate Strategies, Crestview Partners
Margaret E. Peloso, Lead Sustainability Partner, Vinson & Elkins
Tim Rebhorn, Managing Partner, EnCap Energy Transition

Register here.

This event has been made possible by the generous support of Vinson & Elkins LLP.

Next Generation Building Performance Regulation
2022-03-25 12:00 - 13:15 | Virtual Webinar
In late January, the Biden Administration announced the launch of a new “Building Performance Standards Coalition” of cities and states that are working to reduce buildings’ contribution to global change. If successful, the coalition could pave the way for a new wave of local building regulation. As cities and states embark on the process of designing new policies, it is critical to take stock of how early experiences with building performance standards in cities like New York City and Washington DC should inform the structure of the next generation of policies. At this upcoming event, experts with first-hand insight into the early building performance standards will share their advice for the policies to come.

Speakers:
Katrina Wyman (Introductory Remarks), Sarah Herring Sorin Professor of Law, New York University School of Law
Katie Bergfeld, Branch Chief, Building Performance & Enforcement, Data & Benchmarking Division, Department of Energy & Environment
Mark Chambers, Senior Director for Building Emissions and Community Resilience, Council on Environmental Quality, Executive Office of the President
Jasmine Graham, Energy Justice Policy Manager, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Frank Oswald, Building Commissioner, City of St. Louis, Missouri
Ben Silverman, Manager, Policy Design and Implementation, Institute for Market Transformation
Marc Zuluaga, Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Cadence OneFive
Danielle Spiegel-Feld (Moderator), Executive Director, Frank J. Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law

Counting What We Consume: How Cities Can More Accurately Count Their Contributions to Climate Change
2022-03-30 12:00 - 13:15 | Virtual Webinar
When U.S. cities estimate the greenhouse gas emissions for which they are responsible, cities tend to focus on the emissions that come from activities within their borders and from generating electricity to meet local needs. This approach undercounts cities’ contributions to climate change because it leaves out the GHG emissions that come from the production of goods elsewhere that cities import for consumption or use in their borders, such as food and construction materials. This means that the existing local inventories of GHG emissions provide local policymakers – and residents – with a partial picture of how cities are contributing to climate change, and thus an incomplete basis for local climate mitigation policy.
The new mayoral administration in New York City has an opportunity to modernize the city’s approach to counting the city’s GHG emissions, and broaden climate policy, by incorporating estimates of GHG emissions from the city’s consumption of goods produced elsewhere. The administration also may have an incentive to update the city’s approach to inventorying local GHG emissions because the mayor stated during the campaign that the city should “track its emissions from food procurement and consumption.”
This panel will discuss the importance of updating local GHG inventories to include emissions from products imported into the city, and how local governments can estimate these emissions. Panelists will include people who have undertaken consumption based inventories for local governments, such as San Francisco, and supply-chain analyses of the GHG emissions from local government procurement on the west coast.

Panelists
Aaron Toneys is a Senior Associate at Good Company, which is based in Eugene, Oregon; he has conducted analyses of the GHG emissions associated with local government procurement as well as other sustainability analyses.
Dr. Chris Jones is Director of the CoolClimate Network at UC Berkeley, where he has led the development of increasingly sophisticated methodologies for undertaking consumption-based greenhouse gas accounting and completed such accountings for San Francisco.
Jonathan Rosenbloom is a Professor of Law at Vermont Law School who published a law review article in 2021 arguing that cities should undertake consumption-based inventories to provide an accurate picture of their contributions to climate change.
Lingxi Chenyang is Environmental Law Fellow at the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University; she has argued that climate mitigation policy should include reducing meat consumption.
Nilang Gor is a co-founder of Berkeley-based Cultivate Empathy for All and a board member of the California Plant-based Alliance.
Ross MacWhinney is a Senior Advisor at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice and an expert in greenhouse gas emissions accounting.

Equitable Electrification for New York City
2022-04-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Webinar
Electrification of building heating systems is expected to play a central role in New York City and New York State’s long-term efforts to decarbonize its building stock. From a climate perspective, this makes sense; buildings will not be able to dramatically reduce their carbon footprints without moving away from onsite combustion of fossil fuels for their heating. But to what extent is beneficial electrification of heating systems in multifamily housing in New York City likely to cause residential tenant utility costs to rise?
This roundtable will bring together experts and stakeholders to explore this issue from legal, economic, and engineering perspectives, focusing on whether electrification can raise energy costs for low- and moderate-income tenants and how vulnerable populations may be protected. Participants will have an opportunity to share their experiences and insights on this important issue, and to provide feedback on the Guarini Center’s findings on the legal protections and risks that currently exist for different classes of tenants, as well as potential paths forward.
This roundtable is hosted in partnership with WE ACT for Environmental Justice. Our work on this issue, including this event, is made possible by the generous support of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
This roundtable will take place virtually via Zoom. Participation is by invitation only.
Please check back to this page for updates about this event.

Materials for Participants:
AGENDA
BACKGROUND & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Agenda

2:00 – 2:10 | Welcome and Framing Remarks – An Introduction to the Project
Danielle Spiegel-Feld, Executive Director, Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law; Adjunct Professor of Law, NYU School of Law
Sonal Jessel, Policy Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
2:10 – 2:55 | Setting the Stage – Preliminary Economic, Engineering, and Legal Perspectives
2:10 – 2:25 | Jason Block, Director, Building Operations, Decarbonization, and Efficiency, Steven Winter Associates
2:25 – 2:40 | Alexander Meeks, Director, HR&A Advisors
2:40 – 2:55 | Danielle Spiegel-Feld, Executive Director, Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law; Adjunct Professor of Law, NYU School of Law
2:55 – 4:00 | Group Discussion
During this group session, participants will assess the study team’s preliminary findings regarding the extent to which low- and moderate-income households in New York City may be vulnerable to increases in utility expenses as their buildings electrify. Specific questions will explore the following themes:

What are the mechanisms through which electrification may impact tenant utility expenses?
What protections are in place to prohibit cost shifting towards LMI tenants and how well are these protections enforced? What additional protections might be developed?
How material are the risks that electrification could increase tenant utility costs in New York City?

Impact Fees: A New Direction for NYC?
2022-06-14 12:00 - 13:15 | Virtual Webinar
Impact fees are one-time charges imposed on new development as a condition of approval to offset the development’s impact on local infrastructure, services, and the environment. A revenue-raising tool, they are broadly based on the idea that new development should be responsible for paying for a share of the new or additional public infrastructure and services needed to support it, and for the costs the governments incurs in mitigating its adverse impacts on the environment.
Employed widely in other major U.S. cities, New York City does not have an official impact fee policy.
Facing numerous challenges in raising the revenue needed to support its growing population, some have called for the City to explore whether to adopt an impact fee program. Yet, there are open questions surrounding the city’s legal authority to charge impact fees, as well as whether they are an appropriate or viable policy choice.
At this upcoming event, a panel of experts will come together to explore these questions and share their perspectives on this issue.

PANELISTS
Eric Kober, Senior Fellow, The Manhattan Institute, former Director of Housing, Economic & Infrastructure Planning, NYC Department of City Planning
David Garcia, Policy Director, Terner Center for Housing Innovation at University of California, Berkeley
Louis Cholden-Brown, Senior Advisor & Special Counsel for Policy and Innovation, Office of NYC Comptroller Brad Lander
Spencer Williams, Director of Advocacy, The Municipal Art Society

MODERATOR
Adalene Minelli, Senior Fellow, Guarini Center

Register for the event here.

This event is made possible by the generous support of the New York Community Trust.

Electrification and the Inflation Reduction Act: Has the Calculus Changed?
2022-09-19 12:30 - 13:30 | Virtual Webinar
Has the Inflation Reduction Act altered the costs and benefits of electrifying buildings in New York? For instance, will the IRA accelerate the decarbonization of the New York State grid? And will it materially reduce the cost of installing heat pumps?
With its slew of incentives for renewable energy and heat pumps, it seems very likely that the IRA has changed the economic and environmental calculus, but figuring out what the impact will be is a subject of much debate. At this upcoming event, experts from economics, law, and building science will help unpack the complexity to inform local decision-making.

PANELISTS
Charlotte Matthews, Head of Affordable Electrification, Google
Dale Bryk, Senior Attorney and Director of State & Regional Climate Policies, Harvard Law School Environmental and Energy Law Program
Dr. Sanem Sergici, Principal, Brattle
Jasmine Graham, New York Senior Policy & Campaign Manager, Building Decarbonization Coalition
Jason Block, Principal Mechanical Engineer, Cadence OneFive

MODERATOR
Katrina Wyman, Sarah Herring Sorin Professor of Law, NYU School of Law

Register for the event here.
