Navigating Climate Change in a Global Business Environment

Although climate change was once viewed as an issue in the distant future, it has shifted to the present, joining the forefront of major issues. Climate-related changes affect various environments and populations. For example, detrimental effects include longer and hotter summers, flooding, shorter winters, heavier downpours, ocean acidification, vulnerable coastal lifelines, and so forth. The legal responses and approaches to this global issue includes regulations, climate policies, international treaties, and conventions—all for the purpose of mitigation or adaptation. As a result of these worldwide responses, various global industries and businesses are affected in a myriad of ways.

This symposium focuses on those effects on global industries. The symposium will be divided into three panels with distinct themes, each focusing on a specific industry:

• The first panel will discuss the effects of climate policies and regulations on the transportation industry (i.e., aviation, automobiles, maritime/shipping).
• The second panel will discuss the effects of climate policies and regulations on the energy industry (e.g., coal-industry, renewable sources, solar energy, etc).
• The third panel will cover market-based mechanisms, which aim to cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating financial incentives for greenhouse gas emitters to emit less. Further examples of market-based mechanisms include a carbon tax, a cap-and-trade program, a baseline and credit program, taxation, feed-in tariff systems, levies, and carbon stocks through agroforestry.

Each panel features academics and practitioners representing a wide range of legal knowledge and climate change-related experience. Law professors come from a number of different institutions, including the University of Utah, Widener University, Ohio State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Similarly the practitioners represent a sundry of legal backgrounds, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Focus, and Van Ness Feldman, to name a few.  SCJILB is excited to bring these prominent individuals to discuss a vital global crisis that will continue to be addressed in the future.

Symposium Registration and Fees

USC faculty, students – no fee; however, registration is required.

Registration before November 10th: $75*
Registration fee on or after November 10th: $100*
(payment at the door will be accepted in cash or by check made payable to USC )

Online registration and payment can be completed by clicking on this link: registration.

For further information see here.