GW Law Hosts 2026 Shapiro Environmental Law Symposium

Nearly 300 energy and environmental law experts, students and faculty visited GW Law for the annual J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Environmental Law Symposium on February 19-20.

The symposium, which is the keynote annual event for GW Law's Environmental and Energy Law program, convenes leading scholars, practitioners and policy-makers in environmental and energy law to discuss pressing issues facing the field.

This year's program, titled "Adapting to Paradigm Shifts in Environmental and Energy Law in the United States," examined how the field is responding to rapid ecological, technological, economic and legal transformations. Discussions focused in particular on the evolving roles of markets, justice and governance in shaping the future of environmental protection and energy development.

Over the two-day symposium, speakers and panels explored how the current political moment is impacting environmental law and policy. Panelists provided insightful commentary, responded in real time to key cases and gave expert analysis on the future of environmental and energy law.

Charles Lee, a former senior policy advisor at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and an environmental justice activist, provided the keynote speech, in which he called for resilience, positivity and hope, emphasizing practical paths forward for environmental justice.

Caroline Cecot, the Oswald Symister Colclough Dean's Research Professor of Law, highlighted how climate science and economic analysis are stronger and clearer than ever while political divisions have grown in her opening remarks.

Four panel discussions also focused on this theme. The first panel, "New Approaches to Climate Accountability," highlighted international progress on climate action despite U.S. withdrawal from multilateral efforts. The panel also explored how states use strategies from disclosure and litigation to proactive policies to enhance climate accountability. And it examined how criminal law-through tools like fraud, antitrust and reckless endangerment-could advance accountability efforts.

The second panel, "New Approaches to Environmental and Climate Justice," explored practical ways to advance environmental justice by treating environmental information as essential infrastructure and leveraging existing legal tools. The discussion also noted growing state-level cooperation through coalitions and interstate compacts to set and enforce environmental standards. Ultimately, the panel emphasized manageable goals to make steady progress rather than becoming overwhelmed by the scope of the challenges.

The third panel, "New Approaches to Adaptation and Resilience," focused on innovative strategies for adaptation and resilience, examining how land use, infrastructure and disaster response must be reimagined to meet escalating risks like sea-level rise and water scarcity. Day one concluded with remarks by Robert Glicksman, the J. B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Environmental Law.

The second day of the symposium opened with welcoming remarks from Dean Dayna Bowen Matthew,who shared her insights on the future of environmental law and justice, followed by the presentation of three panels.

The first panel, "Paradigm Shifts in U.S. Energy Law," focused on the transformation of the energy sector, exploring the rise of renewable energy and energy storage, as well as the challenges of modernizing the electric grid. Panelists responded in real time to the Supreme Court's decision blocking recently imposed tariffs in Learning Resources Inc. v. Trump, which was published just minutes after the panel began.

The second panel, "Market Mechanisms for Climate and Resource Sustainability," discussed water markets, payments for ecosystem services and corporate sustainability approaches, and examined whether market mechanisms can still offer cost-effective, common-ground solutions in this moment of environmental urgency.

Watch the full symposium here.