Archives: Climate Change

Mission Critical at the Department of Defense now includes Climate

On August 13 the President signed the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. The $716 billion H.R. 5515, authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense for procurement of everything from aircraft, missiles, ammunition, shipbuilding and space defense to military installation construction; and is arguably the most significant environmental legislation enacted … Continue Reading

SEC Assessment of Climate Change Risks Still Mandated

By Stuart Kaplow on August 12, 2018 Posted in Climate Change, Federal

While I was on the Baltoro glacier making my way down from K2 in Pakistan earlier this month the Securities and Exchange Commission informed Exxon Mobil Corp. that it closed its investigation into whether the company had misled investors about the risks that climate change posed to its business. The ending of the probe that … Continue Reading

LEED Commercial Interiors can Save the Planet

By Stuart Kaplow on September 17, 2017 Posted in Climate Change, Green Building, LEED

By Katie Stanford and Stuart Kaplow LEED Commercial Interiors projects present the best single opportunity for greening buildings. The proof is in the numbers. There are more than 5.6 million existing commercial buildings in the United States today. And despite the wildly successful U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (the ubiquitous acronym for Leadership in Energy … Continue Reading

The Opportunity for ENERGY STAR

By Stuart Kaplow on March 19, 2017 Posted in Climate Change, Environmental, Federal, Green Building

While much of the media hyperbole has focused on the Trump Administration’s 2018 Budget request of $5.7 Billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, a reduction of $2.6 billion, or 31%, from the 2017 level of funding, little attention has been paid to specific priorities including the resultant opportunities for green building. One of the key … Continue Reading

Legislature Overrides Veto of Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Increase

By Stuart Kaplow on February 12, 2017 Posted in Climate Change, Energy, State

On February 2, 2017, the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates voted to override the veto of an increase the State’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, as enacted in the 2016 Maryland General Assembly session. Last May, Maryland Governor Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr., vetoed House Bill 1106, that was characterized as a “sunshine tax” to be … Continue Reading

Defamation Case over Global Warming Claim set for Trial

By Stuart Kaplow on February 5, 2017 Posted in Climate Change, Environmental

Michael E. Mann is a well-known climate scientist whose research in studying the “paleoclimate,” or ancient climate, has featured prominently in the politically charged debate about climate change. Dr. Mann filed an action for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress on October 22, 2012 against Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), Rand Simberg, National Review, Inc. … Continue Reading

Less Climate Change Disclosure by Public Companies

By Stuart Kaplow on December 11, 2016 Posted in Climate Change, Environmental, Federal, Sustainability

Publicly traded companies are required to disclose material business risks to investors through regular filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Since February 8, 2010, the SEC has expressly required disclosure related to climate change. While it has been controversial, the SEC’s 2010 interpretive guidance, the Commission Guidance Regarding Disclosure Related to Climate Change, which … Continue Reading

Green Building Law Update

Environmental Law and Sustainability for Business