Climate Change: U.S. Law & Policy

NOTE: This course is available as an in-person section or an online section designed for LLM/MSL Distance Students only. Each section has its own course description. Check the current catalog or WebAdvisor to see which section is offered in any given year. See the note below about eligibility for the Online Section for JDs, MSLs, and residential LLMs. 

 

Climate Change: U.S. Law & Policy - Professor Melissa Powers

• Course Number: LAW-493  In-Person Section
• Course Type: Foundational
• Credits: 3
• Enrollment Limit: Determined by the Registrar
• Description:  This class will discuss U.S. law and policy. It will begin with an overview of climate science and a discussion of the existing and expected impacts of climate change. The course will then discuss market-based mechanisms to regulate greenhouse gases; federal laws, regulations, and policies that regulate greenhouse gases and otherwise address climate change impacts; climate change litigation in federal and state courts; and efforts at both the state and federal level to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from specific sectors.
• Prerequisite: none
• Evaluation Method: Evaluation will be based on a combination of quizzes taken throughout the semester, class participation, and a final exam. Students may also be expected to contribute to an online discussion forum, draft a short paper, give a short presentation to the class, and/or participate in an in-class simulation. Students should be prepared to complete and submit work throughout the semester.
• Capstone: no
• WIE: no

Climate Change: U.S. Law & Policy - Professor Melissa Powers

• Course Number: LAW-493  Online LLM/MSL Section
• Course Type: Foundational
• Credits: 3
• Enrollment Limit: Determined by the Registrar
• Description: This section will be offered online. This class will discuss U.S. law and policy. It will begin with an overview of climate science and a discussion of the existing and expected impacts of climate change. Next, the course will discuss federal laws, regulations, and policies that regulate greenhouse gases and otherwise address climate change impacts. The course will then discuss state and local approaches to address climate change. The class will also discuss climate change litigation in federal and state courts. Time permitting, the course will compare U.S. approaches to climate change law and policy in other countries.

  Students will be expected to view the class videos in the time-frames allotted.

• Prerequisite: none
• Evaluation Method: Regular quizzes, class participation (through online discussion and, potentially, synchronous video chats), and a final exam. The final exam will be unscheduled, meaning students can choose when to take it during the exam period.
• Capstone: no
• WIE: no

Notes for LC JDs, MSLs, and residential LLMs:

Lewis & Clark JDs, MSLs, and residential LLMs are permitted to take some courses online within the limits of LC’s distance learning policy. Those students should consult the distance learning policy prior to signing up for distance learning courses.

Students who are on campus are asked to take the in-person version of the class when both an in-person and online version of the same class are offered in the same semester, but may petition the Associate Dean of Students, Libby Davis, to take the online version if they have a compelling reason for doing so:  eadavis@lclark.edu

JD students at other law schools may be able to take online courses if space permits and permitted by their home school. Contact Associate Dean of the Environmental Law Program, Janice Weis, at jweis@lclark.edu