International Environmental Law
Scope and Purpose
For more than a decade, this annual advanced course of study has served as the leading program and meeting for attorneys engaged in or exploring the practice of international environmental law. Comprising more than 13 hours of instruction, it provides a comprehensive update on major multilateral environmental agreements and key environmental legal trends, not just in Europe, but in the Middle East and around the world. It also examines the management of environmental and social impacts by financial institutions, expanding product-based environmental legislation, and recent and anticipated developments. Throughout, the course emphasizes the practical significance of events and trends on practitioners and their clients in the U.S. and abroad.
Charles Di Leva, Chief Counsel for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development and International Law at the World Bank will deliver the keynote address at this year’s program. The course faculty also comprises senior professionals with the U.S. Department of State and Environmental Protection Agency, as well as various international organizations, leading companies, law firms, and public interest organizations. Time is reserved throughout the program for written questions and discussion.
Why Attend?
International environmental law continues to expand in its importance to U.S. practitioners. A wide range of fast-evolving, multilateral environmental agreements are setting new pollution control and product standards in countries across the globe. These include the Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change, new agreements restricting chemical production and use, and new international rules governing international trade in products of biotechnology.
In the U.S., a new Congress is poised to consider U.S. ratification of a number of key international environmental agreements and related implementing legislation. In Europe, a new emissions trading regime to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is being implemented and expansive legislation for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) is being implemented with significant effects on chemical producers and downstream users.
Planning Chairs
J. William Futrell, President, Sustainable Development Law Associates, Arlington, Virginia
Paul E. Hagen, Beveridge & Diamond, P.C., Washington, D.C.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Charles Di Leva, Chief Counsel, Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development and International Law, The World Bank, Washington, DC
Faculty
Mishkat Al Moumin, Futrell Visiting Scholar, Environmental Law Institute, Washington, D.C.
Stephen O. Andersen, Director of Strategic Climate Projects, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
Jane Anstee-Wedderburn, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, London
Ben Boer, Co-Director, IUCN Academy of Environmental Law; Professor of Environmental Law, The University of Sydney, Australia
Paul Bowden, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, London
Carl Bruch, Senior Attorney and Co-Director, International PROGRAMs, Environmental Law Institute, Washington, D.C.
Leslie Carothers, President, Environmental Law Institute, Washington, D.C.
Daryl Ditz, Senior Policy Advisor, Chemical Program, Center for International Environmental Law, Washington, D.C.
William Eichbaum, Vice President, Endangered Species Program, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, D.C.
Merrill Fliederbaum, Senior Counsel, Pfizer Inc., New York
Richard A. Frandsen, Senior Counsel, Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.
Gary Guzy, Senior Vice President and National Practice Leader, Emerging Environmental Risk Practice, Marsh USA, Inc., Washington, D.C.
Alan D. Hecht, Ph.D., Director for Sustainable Development, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
Jeffrey M. Klein, Attorney-Adviser, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.
K. Russell LaMotte, Beveridge & Diamond, P.C., Washington, D.C.
Sarah Lukie, Managing Director, Global Issues and Multilateral Affairs, Food and Agriculture, Biotechnology Industry Organization, Washington, D.C.
Sharon Maharg, Director, Global Origination, Sustainability Management Americas, WestLB AG, New York
Erin Meezan, Director, Environmental Affairs, Interface, Inc., Atlanta
Shawn Miller, Environmental and Social Risk Management Director, Global Corporate and Investment Bank, Citigroup Inc., New York
Kenneth Rivlin, Allen & Overy LLP, New York
Ernest S. Rosenberg, President & CEO, The Soap and Detergent Association, Washington, D.C.
S. Jacob Scherr, Senior Attorney and Director, International Programs, Natural Resources Defense Council, Washington, D.C.
Alison L. Taylor, Director, Government Affairs-Environment, The Siemens Corporation, Washington, D.C.; former Minority Chief Counsel, Committee on Environment and Public Works, U.S. Senate
William Thomas, Counsel, Clifford Chance, Washington, D.C.
Michael P. Walls, Managing Director, Regulatory and Technical Affairs, American Chemistry Council, Arlington, Virginia
Philip Warburg, President, Conservation Law Foundation, Boston
Andrew Wheeler, Minority Staff Director and Chief Counsel, Environment and Public Works Committee, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.
Worku Damena Yifru, Programme Officer, Convention on Biological Diversity, United Nations Environment Programme, Montreal
Durwood J. Zaelke, Director, International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, Washington, D.C.
Lisa Zannoni, Head of Global Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs, Syngenta, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Additional government faculty to be confirmed
ALI-ABA Staff: Amy S. Weinberg, Assistant Director, Office of Courses of Study
Program Schedule
Thursday, April 12, 2007
- 7:45 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
- Video Webcast Segment A
- 8:45 a.m. Introductory Remarks and Course Overview – Messrs. Futrell and Hagen
- 9:00 a.m. Keynote Address – Mr. Di Leva
- 9:45 a.m. The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer: A 20-Year Success Story – Messrs. Andersen, Klein, and Zaelke
- 10:45 a.m. Networking Break
- 11:00 a.m. Global Chemical Agreements and Initiatives: Stockholm POPs Convention, Rotterdam PIC Convention, and REACH – Messrs. Ditz, LaMotte, and Walls
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch Break
- Video Webcast Segment B
- 1:30 p.m. Global Climate Change: The Kyoto Protocol, Emissions Trading in Europe, and U.S. Initiatives – Messrs. Bowden and Guzy and Ms. Meezan
- 2:45 p.m. Networking Break
- 3:00 p.m. The Cartagena Protocol: Market Access and Proposed Liability Regimes for Products of Biotechnology – Mss. Lukie and Zannoni and Mr. Yifru
- 4:00 p.m. Capitol Hill Update: Priorities and Possibilities in the 110th Congress – Mss. Carothers and Taylor and Messrs. Frandsen and Wheeler
- 5:00 p.m. Adjournment for the Day; Networking Reception for Registrants and Faculty, sponsored by Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Friday, April 13, 2007
- 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
- Video Webcast Segment C
- 8:30 a.m. Environmental Law Trends in The Middle East – Ms. Al Moumin and Messrs. Bruch and Warburg
- 9:30 a.m. Product-Based Environmental Regulation and Global Supply Chains – Messrs. Fliederbaum, Hagen, and Rosenberg
- 10:45 a.m. Networking Break
- 11:00 a.m. Environmental Law Developments in Europe – Ms. Anstee-Wedderburn and Mr. Rivlin
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch Break
- Video Webcast Segment D
- 1:30 p.m. World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD): Five Years Later – Messrs. Eichbaum, Futrell, Hecht, and Scherr
- 2:45 p.m. Networking Break
- 3:00 p.m. Project Finance: Managing Environmental and Social Risks – Ms. Maharg and Messrs. Miller and Thomas
- 4:15 p.m. Sustainable Soils Protocol – Messrs. Boer and Futrell
- 5:00 p.m. Adjournment
Total 60-minute hours of instruction: 13.25
Suggested Prerequisite: Limited experience in legal practice in subject matter or completion of Basic CLE Course in subject matter
Educational Objective: Acquisition of knowledge and skills to develop proficiency as a practitioner; maintenance of professional competence as a practitioner; provision of information on recent legal developments
Level of Instruction: Advanced
Here's what registrants have said about this course:
The quality of presenters was very impressive and each was very knowledgeable on the topics that each presented.
Wonderful conference – my goal was to broaden my knowledge of International Environmental Law and I think the conference exceeded my expectations.
Having organized panel discussions in the past, I appreciate the difficulty in selecting timely panels of proper scope. In short, great job! The speakers were very knowledgeable and effectively conveyed relevant information.
Excellent course – timely topics and updates of key international instruments. Good mix on panels – private, public sectors essential for presenting a balanced view.
Great class! Very knowledgeable speakers with varied experience from around the world give clear perspective on what’s needed in the international law arena.
Really excellent, outstanding selection of cutting edge decision makers/leaders in field.
I took a great deal from the course and, in the only accolade worth its salt, will attend again if the course is offered.
