Seminar Title:  How Environmental Justice Law & Policy Has Been Shaping Great Lakes Protection & Restoration

Abstract: There is an all too common misconception that environmental justice law is vague and toothless. In fact, environmental justice law is nearly ubiquitous and has been significantly altering environmental decision-making norms. This talk will address the ways that environmental justice law has already shaped and may in the future shape Great Lakes environmental protection and restoration. Specifically, the talk will define environmental justice law, summarize its history, and go through Great Lakes case studies that illustrate how this legal framework alters decision-making regarding pollution control, natural resources management, and energy regulation.