Guarini Center

Climate Change and the Courts
2024-09-24 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | NYU School of Law, D’Agostino Hall, Lipton Hall, 108 West 3rd Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
As climate change litigation continues to rise in frequency and volume, environmental advocates, and state and local governments are driving innovative legal theories to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for greenhouse gas emissions and move climate policies forward through impact litigation. At the same time, the federal government’s ability to pursue affirmative climate policy has come under attack from litigants, and has faced setbacks after recent Supreme Court rulings.
This panel discussion will bring together changemakers in the climate litigation world, environmental advocates, and legal experts, to address recent trends in climate-related litigation in the United States—both offensive and defensive—and will offer perspectives on how governmental and nongovernmental actors can navigate the current litigation landscape to promote a sustainable and just future.
Coffee and breakfast refreshments to be served.

KEYNOTE
Charity Clark, Attorney General, State of Vermont
SPEAKERS
Kirti Datla, Director of Strategic Legal Advocacy, Earthjustice
Mat dos Santos, Co-Executive Director & General Counsel, Our Children’s Trust
Don Goodson, Deputy Director, Institute for Policy Integrity
MODERATORS
Christine Billy, Executive Director, Guarini Center; Adjunct Professor of Law, NYU School of Law
Katrina Wyman, Faculty Director, Guarini Center; Wilf Family Professor of Property Law, NYU School of Law

CLE
This event has been approved to offer two New York State CLE credits in the category of Areas of Professional Practice. The credit is both transitional and non-transitional; it is appropriate for both experienced and newly admitted attorneys

WATCH THE VIDEO RECORDING

Interested in more Climate Week events? Check out our full list of NYU Law climate events!

SPONSORED BY
Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law at NYU School of Law
State Energy and Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law

From Forests to Farms: Tackling the Environmental and Social Impacts of Food Production in Brazil
2024-09-24 09:00 - 18:00 | NYU School of Law, Furman Hall, Lester Pollack Colloquium, 245 Sullivan Street, New York, NY, 10012
Food systems play a critical role in determining the future of forests around the world. Livestock farming and other forms of agriculture have also had a significant impact on the global climate change landscape. In Brazil, deforestation for pastures is one of the main causes of greenhouse gas emissions, and methane emissions from cattle digestion and animal waste decomposition further contribute to the problem. In addition to its climate and biodiversity impacts, food production in the Amazon is also linked to pervasive land grabbing and illegal deforestation, lending to corruption, fraud and laundering practices that harm indigenous peoples and local communities.
At this event, panels of experts and stakeholders will discuss ongoing challenges in addressing the environmental and social impacts of the Brazilian meat supply chain, as well as promising solutions for shifting food production in Brazil towards a more sustainable model.

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From Forests to Farms: Tackling the Environmental and Social Impacts of Food Production in Brazil
September 24
,
9:00 am
–
6:00 pm

Free

Food systems play a critical role in determining the future of forests around the world. Livestock farming and other forms of agriculture have also had a significant impact on the global climate change landscape. In Brazil, deforestation for pastures is one of the main causes of greenhouse gas emissions, and methane emissions from cattle digestion and animal waste decomposition further contribute to the problem. In addition to its climate and biodiversity impacts, food production in the Amazon is also linked to pervasive land grabbing and illegal deforestation, lending to corruption, fraud and laundering practices that harm Indigenous peoples and local communities.
As part of this day-long series of programs, panels of experts and stakeholders will discuss ongoing challenges in addressing the environmental and social impacts of the Brazilian meat supply chain, as well as promising solutions for shifting food production in Brazil towards a more sustainable model.

Program

PROGRAM 1 — Watching Brazil’s Food Systems: Traceability, Transparency & Integrity in the Meat Supply Chain
Produced by Transparency International Brazil
9:00 AM — Welcoming Address

Adalene Minelli, Senior Fellow, Guarini Center
Adalene is a Senior Fellow at the Guarini Center. Her current work and research focuses include local climate action, urban wild animals, and international environmental law and policy. In her time at the Guarini Center, Adalene has also worked on and led projects focusing on local food policy, land use, and providing capacity building assistance to the small island developing states in international treaty negotiations.

Alexandre Mansur, Project Director, O Mundo Que Queremos; Coordinator of Radar Verde
Alexandre Mansur is a journalist. He has worked for 30 years in mainstream media covering sustainability for outlets such as Jornal do Brasil, Veja magazine, and Época magazine. He writes for the Ideias Renováveis column in Exame magazine and for the Um Só Planeta portal of Grupo Globo. He is also a board member of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (Instituto Energia e Meio Ambiente), Green Initiative (Iniciativa Verde), and the Pro-UCs Network (Rede Pró-UCs). He is currently the project director of Mundo Que Queremos and coordinator of Radar Verde.

Ketakandriana Rafitoson, Vice Chair, Transparency International
Dr Ketakandriana “Ke” Rafitoson is from Madagascar. She is a Malagasy anticorruption and pro-democracy activist and independent researcher. She is the Vice-Chair of Transparency International and served as the Executive Director of TI Madagascar from 2018 to 2024. Moreover, Ke co-founded several social movements in Madagascar and is the global Executive Director of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) – fighting for better governance of extractive industries. Ke is passionate about social justice and democracy.
9:15 AM — Presentation on Radar Verde & Panel A: Transparency & Traceability in the Brazilian Meat Supply Chain

Alexandre Mansur, Project Director, O Mundo Que Queremos; Coordinator of Radar Verde (moderator)
Alexandre Mansur is a journalist. He has worked for 30 years in mainstream media covering sustainability for outlets such as Jornal do Brasil, Veja magazine, and Época magazine. He writes for the Ideias Renováveis column in Exame magazine and for the Um Só Planeta portal of Grupo Globo. He is also a board member of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (Instituto Energia e Meio Ambiente), Green Initiative (Iniciativa Verde), and the Pro-UCs Network (Rede Pró-UCs). He is currently the project director of Mundo Que Queremos and coordinator of Radar Verde.

Luisa Luz, Founder & Institutional Director, ILAJUC
Luísa Luz is a lawyer and historian who graduated from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has always worked in the nonprofit sector and specialized in social project management. She has worked on development and poverty eradication projects and is currently dedicated to promoting access to justice and collective rights as the Institutional Director of the Latin American Institute for Collective Justice (ILAJUC).

Rariany Monteiro, Public Sector Financial Specialist, WWF Brazil
Rariany Monteiro is an economist specializing in green finance, focusing on solutions that connect financial regulation to environmental preservation. With specializations from the London School of Economics (LSE), Financial Economic Project Modeling from FIPE/USP, and PMP certifications, Rariany is a leader in coordinating Brazil’s Sustainable Taxonomy through WWF-Brazil. Her work involves strategic partnerships with financial institutions to improve traceability and transparency in agricultural supply chains, ensuring that financing does not contribute to illegal deforestation.

Ritaumaria Pereira, Executive Director & Researcher, Imazon; Coordinator of Radar Verde (presenter)
Ritaumaria Pereira, the current Executive Director of the Amazon Institute of People and the Environment (Imazon), is a dedicated Brazilian researcher with a rich academic background. She holds a Ph.D. in Geography from Michigan State University, a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the Federal University of Viçosa, and an Agronomic Engineering degree from the Federal University of Bahia. Beyond her role at Imazon, Pereira has also conducted post-doctoral research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since 2002, her research has focused on the Amazon, particularly on cattle ranching, agrarian reform, and economic development.
10:15 AM — Panel B: Countering Deforestation & Corruption in the Brazilian Amazon

Bruno Brandão, Executive Director, Transparency International Brazil (moderator)
Bruno Brandão is an economist from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Master in Public Management from the University of York (United Kingdom) and in International Relations from Barcelona Institute of International Studies (Spain). He has worked for Transparency International (TI) for over ten years, having experience in the organization’s Secretariat in Germany, coordinating the Climate Financing Integrity Program in Mexico and, since 2016, he has been the executive director of the organization’s Brazilian chapter.

Carlos Andrés Baquero-Díaz, Research Director, NYU TERRA Program, Center for Human Rights and Global Justice
Carlos Andrés Baquero-Díaz is the research director of the NYU TERRA Program at the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice. His research focuses on socio-environmental justice, property and environmental rights, and Indigenous peoples rights. Currently, he co-curates the More-Than-Human Life Project (MOTH) and the FORGE program, and serves as senior editor at Open Global Rights. He has taught classes on environmental law at Universidad de los Andes and currently is an adjunct professor on critical property and environmental rights at NYU Law School.

Giulia Bondi, Senior Forests Campaigner, Global Witness
Giulia Bondi holds 10 years’ experience in the NGO sector working on climate, environmental and human rights issues. Giulia is currently Senior Forests Campaigner at Global Witness, an international NGO that challenges abuses of power and campaigns against climate breakdown. Previously joining Global Witness, Giulia worked as climate justice and energy officer at CIDSE, an international development NGO, coordinating advocacy activities on topics such as agriculture, finance and human rights at several UN climate change negotiations (COPs), including COP21 in Paris. Giulia studied International Relations and holds a master’s degree in European policies – but she believes having received the best formation from engagement with grassroots communities.

Maria Laura Canineu, Deputy Director, Environment and Human Rights Division, Human Rights Watch
Maria Laura Canineu is the deputy director of the Environment and Human Rights division. Between 2013 and 2023, she served as the Brazil Director in the Americas Division at Human Rights Watch. Before joining Human Rights Watch, she directed a team of public lawyers, handling human rights issues. This included children’s, women’s, labor, LGBT and indigenous people’s rights, as well as health and education issues
COFFEE BREAK (11:15 – 11:30 AM)
PROGRAM 2 — Transforming Brazil’s Food Systems: Best Practices for Promoting Biodiversity and Combating Climate Change
11:30 AM — Panel Discussion

Grazielle Parenti, Latam Head of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, Syngenta
Grazielle Parenti has over 28 years of experience and high-profile participation in the Food and Agriculture Industry, having worked for BRF, Diageo, and Mondelez. She holds a Business B.A. from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (“FGV”), an MBA with emphasis in Marketing from FIA/USP, and a Graduate Degree in Public Policy from FGV. Up until July 2022, she was the Vice President of Global Institutional Relations and Sustainability for BRF and held the position of Council President of ABIA – Brazilian Association of the Food Industry –, as well as President of the BRF Institute, and Counselor in the Executive Council of Foreign Trade for the Ministry of Economy.

João Adrien, Head of ESG for Agriculture, Itaú-BBA
João Adrien is the Head of ESG at Agriculture Directory at Itau-BBA, the largest private investment bank in Brazil. João is an economist, specialized in public policies for sustainable agriculture and climate change agenda. Prior to this, he served as Special Adviser for the Socioenvironmental Agenda at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, as well as the Environmental Regularization Director at the Brazilian Forestry Service. João is also Vice President of the Brazilian Rural Society, an important farmer association, and he is a member of the Executive Group of the Brazilian Coalition on Climate, Forest and Agriculture.

John de la Parra, Director, Food Initiative, Rockefeller Foundation
John de la Parra, PhD, is the Director of the Global Food Portfolio at The Rockefeller Foundation, where he leads initiatives to create a more sustainable and nourishing food system. An ethnobotanist and plant chemist, he specializes in food crops and medicinal plants. He also lectures on ethnobotany and food innovation at Harvard and has held research and teaching positions at MIT, Tufts, and Northeastern University. His work is inspired by his upbringing on a farm in Alabama and his family’s roots in México and South America.

Salo Coslovsky, Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Public Service, NYU Wagner (moderator)
Salo Coslovsky is an Associate Professor at NYU, where he teaches courses in economic development and policy implementation. He holds a bachelor degree in Public Administration from FGV (Brazil), a master’s in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a PhD in Urban Studies from MIT. Since 2020 he has been a researcher with the Amazonia 2030 Project. Prof. Coslovsky writes a monthly column for O Estado de São Paulo and his research on forest-friendly products has been featured in multiple Brazilian and international outlets.
1:00 PM — Lunch Talk: Opportunities for Generating Carbon Credits by Brazilian Agribusiness
At this lunch talk, representatives from three Brazilian companies will come together to present cases from Brazilian farms that generate carbon credits, and discuss promising opportunities for developing new agricultural sources of carbon credits, such as fruits, coffee, cocoa, rubber trees, and other perennial plant-based agriculture. The group will also launch a public invite to contribute to this development. Food and beverages to be provided.
This lunch talk is generously sponsored by Citrosuco, Eccon Soluções Ambientais, and Reservas Votorantim. Vegan options available.

David Canassa, Executive Director, Reservas Votorantim
Mr. David Canassa holds the position of Executive Director at Reservas Votorantim, Votorantim’s pioneering platform for nature-based solutions. With more than 20 years dedicated to sustainability within Votorantim’s companies, he also serves as a member of São Paulo Board of Environmental Management. Mr. Canassa holds a Master’s degree in Energy Efficiency, as well as an MBA in Sustainability, Business Management and Environment.

Orlando Nastri, Head of ESG, Citrosuco
As Head of ESG at Citrosuco, the global leader in the citrus value chain, Orlando leads the ESG agenda across strategy, governance, performance, disclosure, and stakeholder engagement. He has over 10 years of experience in sustainability and social impact, working with diverse sectors such as mining, agribusiness, and building materials in Brazil, Europe, and the USA, applying agile and hybrid project management methods.

Yuri Rugai Marinho, CEO & Founder, Eccon Soluções Ambientais
Yuri is CEO at ECCON Soluções Ambientais with 20 years of experience in the environmental field. Yuri founded ECCON in 2014 and the company has become one of the leading environmental consultancies in Brazil. Holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Environmental Law from the Faculdade de Direito do Largo de São Francisco –University of São Paulo (USP). Consultant for the Waterloo Global Science Initiative (Canada) and Fellow of the Kinship Conservation Fellowship Program (United States).
COFFEE BREAK (2:00 – 3:00 PM)
PROGRAM 3 — Tackling Deforestation and Transforming Cattle Production in Brazil
Produced by the Nature Conservancy Brazil, IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative & the Tropical Forest Alliance

3:00 PM – 5:30 PM (in Portuguese and English with dual translation provided)
Keynote Address

Helder Barbalho, Governor of Pará, Brazil

Speakers

Caio Penido, President, Mato Gross Meat Institute
Carlos Ernesto Augustin, Special Advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, Brazil
Daan Wensing, CEO, IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative
Gabriel Azevedo, Chief Strategy Officer, IDB Invest
Julia Mangueira, Director for the Cerrado, The Nature Conservancy – Brazil
Maria Netto, Executive Director, Institute for Climate and Society
Mauro Lúcio Costa, Brazilian Cattle Rancher
Paula Caballero, Regional Managing Director for Latin America, The Nature Conservancy
Peng Ren, Program Manager, Overseas Investment, Trade and the Environment Program, Global Environmental Institute
Raul Protázio Romão, Secretary of Environment and Sustainability, Pará, Brazil

NYU Wagner Social Impact, Innovation, and Investment (SI3) Specialization
SPONSORED BY

Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law

NYU Wagner Social Impact, Innovation, and Investment (SI3) Specialization

O Mundo Que Queremos
DATE & TIME
September 24
,
9:00 am
–
6:00 pm

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NYU School of Law, Furman Hall, Lester Pollack Colloquium

245 Sullivan Street

New York,
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10012

Interested in more Climate Week events? Check out our full list of climate events happening at NYU Law.

New York City’s Electricity History and Future
2024-11-12 18:00 - 19:30 | NYU School of Law, Furman Hall, Rm 216, NYU School of Law 245 Sullivan St, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Please join the Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law for the next installment of our fall 2024 Energy Transition Discussion Series at NYU Law: “New York City’s Electricity History and Future.”
Did you know that the modern electricity grid was born in New York City in 1882? In this talk, Richard Miller, former Vice President for Energy and Environmental Law at Con Edison, will discuss the birth of the electricity grid in lower Manhattan and the roles of Thomas Edison, J.P. Morgan, and Nikola Tesla in creating the grid. He will also discuss how the creation of the electric grid resulted in New York’s adoption of some of the first laws regulating public utilities. Finally, this talk will discuss the implications of this history for the transition to a cleaner electricity grid and efforts to mitigate climate change. This event is in-person only and is open to the general public. Advanced registration is required.

Featured Speaker:
Richard Miller, former Vice President for Energy and Environmental Law at Con Edison; former Chief Energy Policy Advisor for NYC
Discussants:
Katrina Wyman, Faculty Director, Guarini Center; Wilf Family Professor of Property Law, NYU School of Law
Christine Billy, Executive Director, Guarini Center; Adjunct Professor of Law, NYU School of Law

CLE
This event has been approved to offer 1.5 New York State CLE credit in the category of Areas of Professional Practice. The credit is both transitional and non-transitional; it is appropriate for both experienced and newly admitted attorneys.

Richard Miller served as Vice President for Energy and Environmental Law at Con Edison from 2018-2023. Prior to that, he was Director of the Energy Markets Policy Group at Con Edison, where his responsibilities included development of Company positions on federal energy policy, including Company positions at the New York Independent System Operator. He previously served as Senior Vice-President for Energy at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, where he oversaw City energy policy and served as the City’s Chief Energy Policy Advisor. He has written articles on law and energy policy that have been published in the Energy Law Journal and Public Utilities Fortnightly. He is co-chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Energy Committee and is on the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative. He is a graduate of Amherst College and New York University School of Law. He lives in New York City and uses a bicycle as his primary form of transportation.

RECORDING
Missed this event? Watch a recording of the program HERE.

NY Climate Policy in 2025 and Beyond
2025-02-06 18:00 - 19:30 | NYU School of Law, Furman Hall, Rm 216, NYU School of Law 245 Sullivan St, New York, NY, 10012, United States
After the results of the 2024 presidential election, states, cities, and other subnational actors are again coming to the forefront as climate policymakers. New York State and New York City are in the process of implementing key climate legislation and are making efforts toward a clean energy transition. However, operational, fiscal, legal, and political challenges threaten the speed and scale of the implementation of state and local climate policies, and the change in federal administration raises looming questions.
This moderated panel discussion will gather insights on the future of New York’s climate policies from multiple perspectives. We will explore key regulatory, legislative, and judicial proceedings to watch in the upcoming year and examine potential headwinds and opportunities for climate policymaking at the state and local levels.
This event is in-person only and is open to the general public. Advanced registration is required. REGISTER HERE.
CLE: This event has been approved to offer 1.5 New York State CLE credits in the category of Areas of Professional Practice. The credit is both transitional and non-transitional; it is appropriate for both experienced and newly appointed attorneys.
PROGRAM
KEYNOTE: Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA
SPEAKERS:

Lisa Garcia, Adjunct Professor of Law, NYU School of Law; former EPA Region 2 Administrator
Arturo Garcia-Costas, Program Director, New York Community Trust
Michael B. Gerrard, Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice, Columbia Law School
Kathleen Schmid, Deputy Executive Director, NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice
Eric Walker, Energy Justice Senior Policy Manager, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

MODERATORS:

Christine Billy, Executive Director, NYU Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law
Katrina Wyman, Wilf Family Professor of Property Law, NYU School of Law

REGISTER HERE

CHILDHOOD IN THE CLIMATE CRISIS: Centering Youth in Policy and Practice
2025-09-24 17:30 - 19:30 | NYU School of Law, D’Agostino Hall, Lipton Hall, 108 West 3rd Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Children experience the climate crisis in myriad and far-reaching ways, but they are rarely at the center of climate conversations. This panel discussion will bring together leaders in government, medicine, philanthropy, and mental health to explore children as both the subjects and agents of climate policymaking. We will discuss how the law should consider the unique ways that children experience the climate crisis, and how to include children’s perspectives in a broader set of policies in support of a healthy and sustainable future.
This event is in-person only and is open to the general public. Advanced registration is required. Register HERE.

PROGRAM
KEYNOTE: Elisa Morgera, UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights; Distinguished Professor of Global Environmental Law, University of Strathclyde Law School
PANELISTS:

Meredith McDermott, Chief Sustainability & Decarbonization Officer, NYC Public Schools
Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, Director, Center for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Ansje Miller, Executive Director, Health and Environmental Funders Network
Hava Chishti & Allison Su, Gen Z Cohort, Climate Mental Health Network

MODERATOR: Christine Billy, Executive Director, Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law, NYU School of Law

CLE: This event has been approved to offer 1 New York State CLE credit in the category of Areas of Professional Practice. The credit is both transitional and non-transitional; it is appropriate for both experienced and newly appointed attorneys.

REGISTRATION:
Advanced registration is required. REGISTER HERE.

*The photos above depict portions of Kate Hartley’s North Creek Mosaic Project, printed with permission of the artist. From 2011 to 2020, Hartley developed this community art project in North Creek, NY. The mural incorporates artwork representing flora and fauna of the Adirondack region from local residents and volunteers. Local second graders, middle school and high school students participated each year for the 10 years of the project.

The Future of Environmental Conservation in New York State: Fireside Chat with Deborah Glick
2025-10-08 17:30 - 19:00 | NYU School of Law, Vanderbilt Hall, Room 214, 40 Washington Square S, New York, NY, 10012, United States
What is the role of state legislatures to lead on environmental policy? In this fireside chat with New York Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Chair of the Committee on Environmental Conservation, we will explore the levers that the New York State legislature can utilize to take climate action, hold polluters accountable, and protect New York’s wildlife and natural resources.
This event is in-person only and is open to the general public. Advanced registration is required. REGISTER HERE.
This event has been approved to offer 1.5 New York State CLE credits in the category of Areas of Professional Practice. The credit is both transitional and non-transitional; it is appropriate for both experienced and newly appointed attorneys

PROGRAM
Featured speaker:
Deborah Glick, New York Assemblymember, Chair of Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation

Moderators:
Christine Billy, Executive Director, Guarini Center; Adjunct Professor of Law, NYU School of Law
Katrina Wyman, Faculty Director, Guarini Center; Wilf Family Professor of Property Law, NYU School of Law

About Assemblymember Deborah Glick:
As a representative of Lower Manhattan for over 30 years, Deborah Glick has been a strong advocate for civil rights, reproductive freedom, animals and environmental preservation, the arts, and tenants’ rights. Glick’s recent legislative accomplishments include the passage of the Reproductive Health Act, codifying Roe v. Wade in New York State law, for which she was the lead sponsor; a bill requiring courts to consider the best interest of a companion animal when determining custody of the pet during a divorce proceeding; the renewal of the Loft Law, which brings formerly commercial buildings up to residential code and protects current tenants, many of whom are artists, from eviction; and a bill authorizing New York City to expand a life-saving speed safety camera program, allowing speed safety cameras to be installed in hundreds of school zones, an initiative proven to significantly reduce traffic crashes near schools. Her current legislative priorities include the passage of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill, which combined seek to advance waste reduction goals and address harms from single-use plastics and other waste materials affecting the health of New Yorkers and the environment. Glick chairs the New York Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation and also serves on the Ways and Means, Rules, and Governmental Operations Committees.
