Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at Berkeley Law

As insurers decline to renew or write insurance in the face of increased risk of severe wildfires driven by climate change, Colorado's Insurance Commissioner is leading with a legislative proposal to make sure insurers account for property and landscape scale mitigation which reduces?risk. Dave Jones, former California insurance commissioner and current director of CLEE’s Climate Risk Initiative, applauds the effort, stating, “The legislation would make a real difference for Coloradans in terms of insurance availability and potentially pricing.” Colorado Insurance Commissoner Mike Conway's proposal aims to require insurers to incorporate wildfire mitigation into their pricing and underwriting models, ensuring homeowners, businesses and communities are rewarded for "hardening" their properties,?maintaining defensible space, and investing in landscape scale forest management.?With insurance premiums skyrocketing and coverage becoming scarce, this legislation offers a potential path to keep insurance available as well as encourage more investments in mitigation. Learn more about Dave Jones’ perspective and the significance of this legislation?here: https://lnkd.in/gB-Rh3te

As federal climate initiatives face uncertainty, the state-led insurance regulatory system becomes crucial in addressing climate risks. Ted Lamm, Associate Director at CLEE, points out, "From a good climate regulatory perspective, the fact that perhaps we're a little more insulated from federal election results in this sector...is a good one.” ?? Learn more about how the election shapes the path forward for state-led climate action in the Law360's article here: https://lnkd.in/etJvPVFP

The Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at Berkeley Law remains committed more than ever to their mission: Tackling climate change and other environmental challenges from the local to global scale through the development and implementation of equitable and effective legal and policy solutions. This year’s?Snapshot annual?report highlights some of?CLEE’s most exciting policy research projects along with highlights of student engagement, communications, and outreach efforts. With deep, long-standing ties in California’s policymaking arenas—and California’s leadership among state and local governments pursuing climate solutions around the world—CLEE?is uniquely positioned to both defend progress and drive action forward.?

?? ? What’s next for EVs? Ethan Elkind discussed on CBS News how a second Trump administration could shape the future of electric vehicle sales, from policy shifts to industry impacts.??? ?? Watch the segment here:? https://lnkd.in/giPGGTnd.

Each year, we reflect on CLEE’s mission and progress. Our 2024 Snapshot highlights our expanding efforts to help design, articulate, and share models for policy implementation. As an independent academic center, CLEE takes a research-driven approach that prioritizes non-partisan, solutions-focused thinking. This independence allows us to support California and other jurisdictions with objective expertise—essential as regions worldwide look to California for environmental leadership. Known for being at the cutting edge, California collaborates with subnational governments globally to exchange knowledge, expertise, and vision. CLEE’s 2024 work has built on our experience working with the State of California and uniquely positioned us to contribute to its expanding global role in addressing the climate crisis. Thank you for partnering with us at this critical moment. Please join us in celebrating our achievements and renewing our commitment to sustainable, equitable solutions. View the Snapshot on our website here: https://lnkd.in/gGRfyk-r Access CLEE's 2024 Snapshot here: https://lnkd.in/gNtcxFgm University of California, Berkeley - School of Law, University of California, Berkeley

Thanks to Chris "Maven" Austin of Maven's Notebook for highlighting our January 2024 policy paper, Five Guiding Principles for Effective Voluntary Agreements.?It’s more relevant than ever, with the?State Water Resources Control Board?considering whether and how to incorporate proposed voluntary agreements into the Bay-Delta Plan. See the Maven’s Notebook summary here:?https://lnkd.in/gwhGNzWN Read the policy paper by?Felicia Marcus?(Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment,?Stanford University),?Nell Green Nylen?and?Michael Kiparsky?(Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at Berkeley Law,?University of California, Berkeley), and Dave Owen (University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings)): https://lnkd.in/gDEtA__C Check out our The Sacramento Bee op-ed: ?https://lnkd.in/gPfZ42eV Enjoy Ian James feature in the Los Angeles Times: https://lnkd.in/gqgzfzV6 Many thanks to?Water Foundation?for supporting this work.

? HAPPENING TOMORROW ? Join our webinar tomorrow with the UC Institute of Transportation Studies where we'll discuss The Road to Zero-Emission Trucks in California, featuring Ethan Elkind, who will be moderating the event. Find out more information in the post below ?

Join Professors Daniel Farber and Sharon Jacobs in a discussion of the implications of the 2024 elections on climate change and environmental law and policy. We will examine the implications of the presidential and congressional elections and what they will mean for federal activities as well as those of the states. We will also discuss strategies to maintain and protect progress. Registration link below! #CLEE #ClimateAction ?? https://lnkd.in/gwZc_Ywk

?? ?? California's air quality regulators?just?voted to extend and expand a program that requires?fuel producers to reduce carbon emissions or buy credits. They?raised?the 2030 target to cut emissions from 20% to 30%, with the goal of reducing emissions by 90% by 2045. Ethan Elkind,?the director of the climate program at CLEE,?told the The New York Times that?"the changes would 'absolutely' make a significant dent in reducing transportation emissions by nudging people away from gasoline and providing incentives to move toward all-electric alternatives.” ? ?? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g5pG_Epp

Governor Gavin Newsom visited the White House this week in an effort to protect California’s climate policies from the incoming Trump Administration. Last week, Newsom called for a statewide special session of lawmakers to “Trump-proof” the state’s laws, including on climate change. ?? Especially at risk is the state’s regulation to ban new gas-powered car sales by 2035. "This is where California is most vulnerable, on transportation emissions," CLEE Climate Program Director Ethan Elkind told CBS News.?? ?? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gaqBVcvT