Lawyering as if Tomorrow Matters

Abstract

This Article argues that all lawyers, not just environmental lawyers, have a unique and important role to play in protecting life on earth, and suggests that we all need to consider doing more than we have already been doing. It briefly explains the challenge and opportunity of climate change, and the approach sustainable development would take in broadening and deepening the approaches that we have been employing to address climate change. It also briefly outlines the challenge to environmental law, and particularly the use of environmental law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, that is being mounted by the Trump Administration. It then describes seven different approaches that lawyers can consider to respond constructively to climate change. These suggestions are intended to provoke discussion and reflection about the necessary role of lawyers at an exceptionally important moment in human history.

Keywords: Law, Legal Profession, Trump, Clean Power Plan, Climate Change, Sustainable Development, Legal Ethics, Sustainability, Environmental Law

JEL Classification: K00, K19, K32, K49