Vermont Law Review Symposium will examine how businesses are changing the environmental landscape by exploring the intersection of the private sector and public interests.

On Friday, September 14, 2018, experts on business and climate change will converge at Vermont Law School to discuss the role corporations have historically played in driving climate disruption, and how they can better combat the climate challenge. 

The annual Symposium, hosted by the editors of Volume 43 of the Vermont Law Review, is titled “Corporations and Climate Change Landscape” and will feature three panels. Throughout the day, panelists will discuss and question the role of climate change and corporations. Panels will discuss how the law can be used to keep corporations accountable, how corporations themselves can change the law or their policies for the good of the environment, and finally how to incentivize and encourage corporations to change for the good of climate change. 

“We are excited to host such established panelists, both legal practitioners and academics, at Vermont Law School for this year’s Law Review Symposium,” said Angela Sicker and Serena Tang, Vermont Law Review Vol. 43 Symposium Editors. “We are especially excited for this topic, Corporations and Climate Change, because we hope to have an educated discussion about ways that businesses can contribute to climate change mitigation.”

Panel 1: Businesses as Drivers of Climate Disruption

The first panel explores the way businesses have disrupted the climate and been a catalyst of climate change. Professionals and professors will be featured discussing the ways the law has kept the private sector accountable. Featured panelists include: Matt Pawa, Esq, Professor Richard Wallsgrove, and Professor Lisa Benjamin. Moderator: Professor Mark Latham

Panel 2: Businesses as a Force for Climate Solutions

The second panel explores the way businesses can or have strived to resolve climate change issues. Featured panelists include: Professor Elizabeth Schmidt, Professor James Ming Chen, Hana Vizcarra, Esq., and Noah Shaw, Esq. Moderator: Professor Marc Mihaly

Panel 3: Incentivizing Reform 

The third panel explores the way law can encourage businesses to mitigate their climate change impacts or resolve climate change issues. Featured panelists include: Professor Steven Ferrey, Professor Victor Flatt, Cristina Banahan, Esq., and Abigail Wuest, Esq.  Moderator: Professor Melissa Scanlan

The 2018 Vermont Law Review Symposium is hosted and organized by Vermont Law Review, Volume 43 and co-sponsored by the New Economy Law Center with the support of Professor Hillary Hoffman and Professor Melissa Scanlan. For more information about the symposium and to register visit eventbrite.com.