The Future of the Endangered Species Act
SLIDES: _TELS ESA Panel.2-4.3-zp.pptx
PANEL DESCRIPTION
The Endangered Species Act has long been one of the nation’s most important laws for the conservation of biodiversity. Scientists warn that habitat loss from poorly planned development and the accelerating impacts of unchecked climate change threaten mass extinction events this century. Yet political opposition in Congress coupled with rollbacks of key regulations by the Trump administration threaten to further undermine the goals of the ESA. This session explores how the ESA is being tested in real world settings, from project permitting and agency decision making to litigation strategies and enforcement trends. The discussion will highlight the legal and political issues that are likely to shape species protection in the years ahead.
Moderated by Emma Evans.
PAT PARENTEAU, UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
Patrick A. Parenteau is Emeritus Professor of Law and Senior Fellow for Climate Policy in the Environmental Law Center at Vermont Law School. He previously served as Director of the Environmental Law Center and was the founding director of the EAC (formerly the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic) in 2004. Professor Parenteau has an extensive background in environmental and natural resources law. His previous positions include Vice President for Conservation with the National Wildlife Federation in Washington, DC (1976-1984); Regional Counsel to the New England Regional Office of the EPA in Boston (1984-1987); Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (1987-1989); and Senior Counsel with the Perkins Coie law firm in Portland, Oregon (1989-1993). Professor Parenteau has been involved in drafting, litigating, implementing, teaching, and writing about environmental law and policy for over five decades. His current focus is on confronting the profound challenges of climate change through his teaching, publishing, public speaking and litigation.
Professor Parenteau is a Fulbright US Scholar and a Fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers. In 2005 he received the National Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to wildlife conservation and environmental education. In 2016 he received the Kerry Rydberg Award for excellence in public interest environmental law. In 2022 he was the recipient of the ABA SONREEL lifetime achievement award. Professor Parenteau holds a B.S. from Regis University, a J.D. from Creighton University, and an LLM in Environmental Law from the George Washington U.