The Green New Deal: Climate Change in the Business Context

For our 2019 symposium, the Virginia Environmental Law Journal featured environmental law experts from public interest groups, academia, and the private sector, to discuss the Green New Deal and how businesses can address climate change. Avi Garbow '92, served as keynote speaker and drew on his past experience as General Counsel at EPA and current experience as Patagonia's Environmental Advocate to discuss what the private sector can do about climate change.

Date: Thursday, October 19th, 2019
Location: Caplin Pavilian
Symposium Schedule:

8:45-9:30 Breakfast
9:30-9:45 Symposium Opening

10-11:30 Panel 1: The Link Between Climate Change and Business
The first panel addressed the intersection of climate change and the private sector and explore different climate considerations facing corporations today.
  • Ethan Shenkman: Partner at Arnold and Porter, Former Deputy General Counsel at the EPA
  • Michael Burger: Executive Director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School
  • Andrew Wicks: Professor of Business Administration at Darden, Director for the Olsson Center for Applied Ethics
  • Hana Vizcarra: Attorney for the Harvard Law Environmental and Energy Law Program
  • Moderated By: Professor Cale Jaffe, University of Virginia School of Law

11:45-1:15 Panel 2: The Future of Climate Change: Is Business the Answer?
The second panel looked at the private sector's role in addressing climate change and compare public and private sector response to this global issue.
  • Michael Vandenbergh: Professor of Law at Vanderbilt Law School, Climate Change Research Network Co-Director
  • Dawone Robinson: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Director for Energy Affordability
  • Anne Havemann: General Counsel of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network
  • Steve Bowers: Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Apex Clean Energy

1:15-1:30 Lunch

1:30-3:00 Keynote: Avi Garbow: Environmental Advocate at Patagonia, Former General Counsel of the EPA
  • Avi Garbow’s keynote highlighted his own experience as Environmental Advocate at Patagonia and former General Counsel for the EPA to consider the role of business in addressing the climate crisis.