Center for Law, Energy & the Environment

The Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE) channels the expertise of the Berkeley Law community – faculty, staff, and students – into pragmatic, creative policy solutions to critical environmental and energy challenges.

June 2018

Jordan Diamond Appointed to the Ocean Protection Council by Governor Brown

CLEE Executive Director and Law of the Sea Institute Co-Director, Jordan Diamond, was appointed by Governor Brown to the California Ocean Protection Council on June 28, 2018. She will join the other council members in helping to coordinate ocean conservation and management efforts among the various involved agencies. In this role, she will also be responsible for making ocean and coastal policy recommendations at the federal, state, and local level in order to better preserve and protect one of the state’s most iconic resources.

June 2018

Insuring California in a Changing Climate

Climate change poses risks to California’s economy, residents, infrastructure, cities, and natural resources. The insurance industry, which exists to protect governments, individuals, and businesses from the most severe risks, will necessarily play a role in efforts to minimize the harmful impacts of a changing climate. On June 13, we convened insurance regulators, industry leaders, policymakers, scientists, and nonprofit researchers for a symposium seeking to better understand the industry will adapt to these new and increased risks.

See the symposium page for background materials and more information.

May 2018

We’re hiring a Program Administrator

We are currently accepting applications for the program coordinator position at CLEE. This is a fantastic opportunity to join our team and support an impactful group of environmental leaders.

Please see the full job posting for more information. 

April 2018

Examining a Novel Mechanism for Groundwater Recharge

Recharge Net Metering (ReNeM) is a strategy that incentivizes recharge by offsetting costs incurred by landowners for operation and maintenance of water collection and infiltration systems that are placed on their land. Our Issue Brief presents a concise description of ReNeM, as well as a short account of an ongoing pilot program in California’s Pajaro Valley.

Further research on ReNeM is ongoing, and additional research products are currently in progress. 

April 2018

Improving California’s Stream Flow Monitoring System

Our new issue brief identifies key actions for improving stream flow monitoring in California. Stream gages monitor the most basic vital sign of California’s waterways—stream flow. Stream flow information also provides technical insights into basin hydrology, and those insights aid long-term water planning. As pressures on the state’s water systems intensify, the need for accurate and timely stream flow information will continue to grow. 

March 2018

Creating a Sustainable Freight System for California’s Future

California’s freight system is responsible for 1/3 of statewide jobs, as well as a major source of both greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution in the state. Delivering the Goods identifies an expansive group of new freight transportation technologies and infrastructure developments and the policy innovations needed to make them reality. The report provides a comprehensive view of the economic and environmental future of California’s freight system as the state drives it toward sustainability.

March 2018

Navigating Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions under SGMA

Our new report examines the legal and institutional questions that will inevitably arise as newly formed groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) seek to address groundwater-surface water interactions under SGMA. The core goal of this report is to help parties identify and address these new questions, and ultimately allow GSAs and stakeholders  to manage groundwater-surface water interactions proactively and effectively.