Michael Gerrard
@michaelgerrard.bsky.social
Professor of environmental and energy law, Columbia Law School. Founder and faculty director, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Practiced environmental law in NYC full-time, 1979-2008.
This new study shows the risk that flooding worsened by climate change poses to toxic sites. As I wrote in 2023, the U.S. regulatory system is ill prepared to deal with this threat, but there are ways the laws can be changed to address it. bit.ly/4igwWRG
November 22, 2025 at 2:04 PM
This new study shows the risk that flooding worsened by climate change poses to toxic sites. As I wrote in 2023, the U.S. regulatory system is ill prepared to deal with this threat, but there are ways the laws can be changed to address it. bit.ly/4igwWRG
As I describe in detail in my new article in the New York Law Journal, the Trump administration has taken an all-of-government approach to squelching wind and solar.
📰 Trump's Multi-Prolonged Attack on Renewable Energy, by Michael Gerrard (@@michaelgerrard.bsky.social): scholarship.law.columbia.edu/faculty_scho...
November 20, 2025 at 9:43 PM
As I describe in detail in my new article in the New York Law Journal, the Trump administration has taken an all-of-government approach to squelching wind and solar.
Climate victory: NY court rules that State Dept. of Env. Conservation must issue its GHG cap-and-invest rules, as required by NY Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act, by Feb. 6. DEC was ready to issue the rules but Gov. Hochul stopped them. Next question: Will they appeal?
bit.ly/47hY8M9
bit.ly/47hY8M9
bit.ly
October 24, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Climate victory: NY court rules that State Dept. of Env. Conservation must issue its GHG cap-and-invest rules, as required by NY Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act, by Feb. 6. DEC was ready to issue the rules but Gov. Hochul stopped them. Next question: Will they appeal?
bit.ly/47hY8M9
bit.ly/47hY8M9
Reposted by Michael Gerrard
🔥🌆Combating the “urban heat island” island effect! 🌳Daniel J. Metzger explores how local organizations can transform paved surfaces—“combining the resources and desire to create green spaces that nongovernmental groups offer with cities’ large portfolios of property.”
📰 ➡️ buff.ly/koaeFiE
📰 ➡️ buff.ly/koaeFiE
October 17, 2025 at 9:38 PM
🔥🌆Combating the “urban heat island” island effect! 🌳Daniel J. Metzger explores how local organizations can transform paved surfaces—“combining the resources and desire to create green spaces that nongovernmental groups offer with cities’ large portfolios of property.”
📰 ➡️ buff.ly/koaeFiE
📰 ➡️ buff.ly/koaeFiE
Reposted by Michael Gerrard
This #webinar is happening tomorrow at 10 AM EST! ⤵️
💻⚖️🌏 Register for @climatepolicyradar.bsky.social's #webinar on October 8 to join experts from the Sabin Center,
@granthamicl.bsky.social and @biicl.bsky.social as they review global climate litigation. The presentation will demonstrate the new Climate Litigation Database: buff.ly/l86RRwy
@granthamicl.bsky.social and @biicl.bsky.social as they review global climate litigation. The presentation will demonstrate the new Climate Litigation Database: buff.ly/l86RRwy
October 7, 2025 at 7:50 PM
This #webinar is happening tomorrow at 10 AM EST! ⤵️
Reposted by Michael Gerrard
The US became the world’s leading nation due to its science and technology, and it has now decided for a path of self-mutilation and handing world leadership over to 🇨🇳.
Why? 🙄
Why? 🙄
As part of the budget proposal for NASA submitted earlier this year, the Trump admin proposed cancelling over 40 missions.
Agency employees have already been instructed to do the prep work for ending these programs, according to a NASA scientist.
More from @jessimckenzi.bsky.social. ⬇️
Agency employees have already been instructed to do the prep work for ending these programs, according to a NASA scientist.
More from @jessimckenzi.bsky.social. ⬇️
NASA missions at risk under the Trump administration
Some satellites slated for decommissioning are in the prime of life, and turning them off would be enormously wasteful, in addition to severely limiting scientists' ability to understand the planet.
thebulletin.org
September 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The US became the world’s leading nation due to its science and technology, and it has now decided for a path of self-mutilation and handing world leadership over to 🇨🇳.
Why? 🙄
Why? 🙄
Reposted by Michael Gerrard
⭐⭐⭐We have a special edition of the Climate Litigation Newsletter in honor of the Climate Litigation Database 2.0 Relaunch in partnership with @climatepolicyradar.bsky.social. Huge thank you to everyone who attended the launch event yesterday!
View the newsletter here: mailchi.mp/law/sabin-ce...
View the newsletter here: mailchi.mp/law/sabin-ce...
September 26, 2025 at 8:23 PM
⭐⭐⭐We have a special edition of the Climate Litigation Newsletter in honor of the Climate Litigation Database 2.0 Relaunch in partnership with @climatepolicyradar.bsky.social. Huge thank you to everyone who attended the launch event yesterday!
View the newsletter here: mailchi.mp/law/sabin-ce...
View the newsletter here: mailchi.mp/law/sabin-ce...
Reposted by Michael Gerrard
📗🌏⚖️Catch up on your reading on #climatelitigation by checking out the new #blog posts under the Climate Reparations Blog Series: blogs.law.columbia.edu/climatechang... #humanrights #climatechange #internationallaw
September 24, 2025 at 7:51 PM
📗🌏⚖️Catch up on your reading on #climatelitigation by checking out the new #blog posts under the Climate Reparations Blog Series: blogs.law.columbia.edu/climatechang... #humanrights #climatechange #internationallaw
Reposted by Michael Gerrard
📰 Trump EPA’s Proposed Revocation of Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding Raises Tangle of Legal Issues, by Michael B. Gerrard (@michaelgerrard.bsky.social): scholarship.law.columbia.edu/faculty_scho...
September 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
📰 Trump EPA’s Proposed Revocation of Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding Raises Tangle of Legal Issues, by Michael B. Gerrard (@michaelgerrard.bsky.social): scholarship.law.columbia.edu/faculty_scho...
Reposted by Michael Gerrard
📆 ⭕ On Wednesday, September 24, join us as we welcome Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California, for a lunchtime talk at Columbia Law School (@columbialawschool.bsky.social).
💡 More info: buff.ly/CDsUDP5
Register ➡️ buff.ly/9o4uHb0
#ClimateWeekNYC @michaelgerrard.bsky.social
💡 More info: buff.ly/CDsUDP5
Register ➡️ buff.ly/9o4uHb0
#ClimateWeekNYC @michaelgerrard.bsky.social
September 15, 2025 at 4:55 PM
📆 ⭕ On Wednesday, September 24, join us as we welcome Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California, for a lunchtime talk at Columbia Law School (@columbialawschool.bsky.social).
💡 More info: buff.ly/CDsUDP5
Register ➡️ buff.ly/9o4uHb0
#ClimateWeekNYC @michaelgerrard.bsky.social
💡 More info: buff.ly/CDsUDP5
Register ➡️ buff.ly/9o4uHb0
#ClimateWeekNYC @michaelgerrard.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Gerrard
Far-fetched undersea drone threat seems equally relevant to oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.
Point is, Trump agencies are concocting pretextual issues with energy infrastructure (drones, road/rail safety, whales, eagles) and applying them only to renewables, not fossils.
Point is, Trump agencies are concocting pretextual issues with energy infrastructure (drones, road/rail safety, whales, eagles) and applying them only to renewables, not fossils.
OLLINS: But the Pentagon reviewed this wind project in 2023 & found that there were negligible national security impacts
BURGUM: In particular there's concern about radar relative to undersea drones...people with bad ulterior motives to the US would launch a swarm drone attack through wind farms
BURGUM: In particular there's concern about radar relative to undersea drones...people with bad ulterior motives to the US would launch a swarm drone attack through wind farms
August 27, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Far-fetched undersea drone threat seems equally relevant to oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.
Point is, Trump agencies are concocting pretextual issues with energy infrastructure (drones, road/rail safety, whales, eagles) and applying them only to renewables, not fossils.
Point is, Trump agencies are concocting pretextual issues with energy infrastructure (drones, road/rail safety, whales, eagles) and applying them only to renewables, not fossils.
As I told the NY Times, the Trump Administration's order to halt this mostly-complete offshore wind project is a flashing red light to the clean energy industry. If you have all your permits and have spent billions of dollars and they still shut you down, who will want to invest?
nyti.ms/47yLAR5
nyti.ms/47yLAR5
With Little Explanation, Trump Throws Wind Industry Into Chaos
www.nytimes.com
August 27, 2025 at 2:25 AM
As I told the NY Times, the Trump Administration's order to halt this mostly-complete offshore wind project is a flashing red light to the clean energy industry. If you have all your permits and have spent billions of dollars and they still shut you down, who will want to invest?
nyti.ms/47yLAR5
nyti.ms/47yLAR5
Reposted by Michael Gerrard
Barely 7 months in and we've already documented almost 100 anti-science actions by an administration that thinks that “[r]esearch programs based on gender identity... do nothing to enhance the health of many Americans.” 🫠
climate.law.columbia.edu/Silencing-Sc...
climate.law.columbia.edu/Silencing-Sc...
Silencing Science Tracker | Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
climate.law.columbia.edu
August 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Barely 7 months in and we've already documented almost 100 anti-science actions by an administration that thinks that “[r]esearch programs based on gender identity... do nothing to enhance the health of many Americans.” 🫠
climate.law.columbia.edu/Silencing-Sc...
climate.law.columbia.edu/Silencing-Sc...
This is my podcast interview on legal issues with EPA's proposed revocation of the endangerment finding for greenhouse gases.
⭐NEWS⭐ #SabinCenter Faculty Director Michael Gerrard joins #ColumbiaEnergyExchange podcast to discuss the future of #USClimatePolicy after the #EPA recsinds its own ablity to regulate #GHG.
Listen here 🔊https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/a-reckoning-for-core-us-climate-finding/
Listen here 🔊https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/a-reckoning-for-core-us-climate-finding/
August 11, 2025 at 8:12 PM
This is my podcast interview on legal issues with EPA's proposed revocation of the endangerment finding for greenhouse gases.
Reposted by Michael Gerrard
We speak with @michaelgerrard.bsky.social about the need to rename the EPA as Trump's Environmental Destruction Agency following Tuesday's announcement that they plan to eliminate the scientific consensus that underpins the gov's authority to address global warming. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...
Time To Rename the Environmental Protection Agency the Environmental Destruction Agency
Background Briefing goes far beyond the headlines and deep under the radar to bring forward truths unheard elsewhere in American media. Background Briefing features international and national news, ex
soundcloud.com
July 31, 2025 at 8:46 PM
We speak with @michaelgerrard.bsky.social about the need to rename the EPA as Trump's Environmental Destruction Agency following Tuesday's announcement that they plan to eliminate the scientific consensus that underpins the gov's authority to address global warming. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...
I was happy to talk on ABC News today about how little I think of EPA's proposal to repeal the greenhouse gas endangerment finding. abcnews.go.com/US/video/epa...
Video EPA moves to repeal scientific finding that allows climate regulation
Michael Gerrard, the founder of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, discusses the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest proposal.
abcnews.go.com
July 30, 2025 at 12:36 AM
I was happy to talk on ABC News today about how little I think of EPA's proposal to repeal the greenhouse gas endangerment finding. abcnews.go.com/US/video/epa...
In high school I got into trouble playing Tom Lehrer songs on the PA system. His 1965 song "Pollution" perfectly summarized the conditions then that led to the environmental laws of the 1970s, which Trump is now trying to dismantle. Give it a listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPrA...
July 28, 2025 at 2:49 AM
In high school I got into trouble playing Tom Lehrer songs on the PA system. His 1965 song "Pollution" perfectly summarized the conditions then that led to the environmental laws of the 1970s, which Trump is now trying to dismantle. Give it a listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPrA...
The Trump administration is doing everything it can to squelch the development, use and communication of science. He can't revoke physics or chemistry but can fire the physicists and the chemists.
“This isn’t quite at the level of the 17th-century church’s persecution of Galileo for saying the Earth goes around the Sun, but it’s in a similar spirit of ideology trying to squelch science,” @michaelgerrard.bsky.social, @sabincenter.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump fossil-fuel push setting back green progress decades, critics warn
US president using ‘invented’ national energy crisis to justify expansion of coal, oil and gas, experts say
www.theguardian.com
July 23, 2025 at 8:24 PM
The Trump administration is doing everything it can to squelch the development, use and communication of science. He can't revoke physics or chemistry but can fire the physicists and the chemists.
Thanks, Joshua. We're very excited about our expanded initiative to draft model laws that states can use to fight climate change. Here is how the Washington Post covered it: wapo.st/3IqUR34
July 17, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Thanks, Joshua. We're very excited about our expanded initiative to draft model laws that states can use to fight climate change. Here is how the Washington Post covered it: wapo.st/3IqUR34
Thanks, Alessandro. Here is a link to the article: bit.ly/4ln1BNT
July 16, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Thanks, Alessandro. Here is a link to the article: bit.ly/4ln1BNT
The Model Climate Laws Initiative, a joint project of Columbia Law School's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and Environmental Advocates NY, evolved from our Model Laws for Deep Decarbonization in the US project, and will draft even more state-level model laws. lpdd.org
July 3, 2025 at 12:39 AM
The Model Climate Laws Initiative, a joint project of Columbia Law School's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and Environmental Advocates NY, evolved from our Model Laws for Deep Decarbonization in the US project, and will draft even more state-level model laws. lpdd.org
The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law is pleased to team with Environmental Advocates NY to expand our work in drafting model laws for state action on climate change. State laws are more important than ever in view of federal retrenchment.
BIG NEWS FOR CLIMATE LAW: EANY is partnering with Columbia’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law to launch the “Model Climate Laws Initiative” across the U.S., to give state governments new legal tools to cut greenhouse gas emissions and protect progress.
July 2, 2025 at 8:40 PM
The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law is pleased to team with Environmental Advocates NY to expand our work in drafting model laws for state action on climate change. State laws are more important than ever in view of federal retrenchment.
As our new report documents in a 50-state survey, local opposition has become a significant obstacle to the construction of wind and solar energy facilities. Ordinances, litigation, protests, and other tactics are getting in the way. The report has the numbers.
📉 🔋The #SabinCenter published a new report, which finds that local laws & lawsuits targeting #renewables is becoming more prevalent in the US.
Press release ➡️ buff.ly/Bz63zJJ
Full Report ➡️ buff.ly/JWL77KK
Press release ➡️ buff.ly/Bz63zJJ
Full Report ➡️ buff.ly/JWL77KK
July 2, 2025 at 5:40 PM
As our new report documents in a 50-state survey, local opposition has become a significant obstacle to the construction of wind and solar energy facilities. Ordinances, litigation, protests, and other tactics are getting in the way. The report has the numbers.
And many of Trump's attacks on climate science may violate federal laws. bit.ly/4jkZatu
June 17, 2025 at 6:31 PM
And many of Trump's attacks on climate science may violate federal laws. bit.ly/4jkZatu
The SabinCenter’s new analysis of the boom in climate change litigation in Brazil.
Brazil is the 3rd most active country for climate litigation—with 135+ cases, mostly since 2020. In new blog post, the #SabinCenter explores this surge & highlights new book Brazil and Climate Justice: Pioneering Litigation for a Global Cause #ClimateLitigation blogs.law.columbia.edu/climatechang...
New Book on Brazil and Climate Justice Explores the Frontiers of Climate Litigation in the Global South - Climate Law Blog
As of June 2025, Brazil had the third largest number of climate litigation cases of any country in the world. To date, a total of 135 climate cases have been brought in Brazil—surpassing other major…
blogs.law.columbia.edu
June 17, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The SabinCenter’s new analysis of the boom in climate change litigation in Brazil.