Upcoming Events

Events with the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment

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— Upcoming Events —

Thursday, March 5, 2026
12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
UC Berkeley School of Law, Room 100
In Person and Via Zoom Webinar       

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the repeal of the Endangerment Finding on February 12, 2026. Touted by the EPA Director, Lee Zeldin, as the “single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history,” the Endangerment Finding provided the scientific basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Environmental and health groups have filed suit challenging the repeal and California is expected to lead a coalition of states in a suit against the Trump Administration. Director Zeldin has said that this action drives “a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion to drive down cost of living for American families, unleash American energy, bring auto jobs back to the U.S. and more…”                                                                                                                                                                

This lunchtime talk will discuss the EPA’s basis for repealing the endangerment finding, what it means for federal and state climate action, and what the legal path ahead looks like.

Register Here.

HARRY & JANE SCHEIBER LECTURE IN OCEAN LAW & POLICY • HYBRID

Marine AI, Autonomy, and the Internet of Things in the Law of the Sea

Flyer with blue banner of ocean topography. Overlaid text reads, “Marine AI, Autonomy, and the Internet of Things in the Law of the Sea.” Includes headshot of Dr. James Kraska. Underneath headshot, text reads: “with James Kraska. Dr. James Kraska is the Charles H. Stockton Chair of International Maritime Law and Department Chair of the Stockton Center for International Law at the U.S. Naval War College and Visiting Professor of Law and John Harvey Gregory Lecturer on World Organization at Harvard Law School.” Text to the right of headshot reads, “Monday, February 23, 2026, 12:50 - 2:00 PM, Warren Room, UC Berkeley School of Law.” QR code included to register. Footer includes Law of the Sea Institute logo, “Harry and Jane Scheiber Lecture in Ocean Law and Policy,” a photo of Harry and Jane Scheiber, and text blurb: “The lecture series recognizes the influential scholarship of Harry N. Scheiber in ocean law history and policy and the Scheibers’ joint contributions to advancing the subject through the Law of the Sea Institute’s conferences and publications.”Monday, February 23, 2026
12:50 – 2:00 p.m.
UC Berkeley School of Law, Warren Room
In person and via Zoom Webinar

How do we reconcile the law of the sea with the proliferation of marine AI, autonomy, and the Internet of Things (IoT) that operate seamlessly across jurisdictional boundaries? Join us for a lecture by Dr. James Kraska exploring these developments and challenges.
 
The law of the sea provides rules for presence, navigation, operations, and jurisdiction at sea. These rules reflect coastal state sovereignty in the territorial sea, archipelagic waters, and international straits, coastal state sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and on the continental shelf, and international governance over the high seas and the deep seabed Area. 
 
AI is accelerating at sea through autonomous, recoverable, or expendable marine instruments and devices, floaters, gliders, “ocean data acquisition systems (ODAS),” unmanned surface vehicles, innumerable surface and underwater vehicles, smart buoys, and seabed installations and structures. The IoT is expanding in the maritime domain, with “SMART” submarine communications cables, biologging from marine fauna, and a growing number of sensors for oceanographic, meteorological, scientific, commercial, and naval intelligence sensors and weapons. The rapid advance of these technologies in the water column, on the seabed, and in the airspace above the oceans poses novel challenges to the governance structure in the law of the sea. 
 
Lunch will be provided for those who register to attend in person.                                                        
ECOLOGY LAW QUARTERLY BANQUET • IN-PERSON

Ecology Law Quarterly’s 55th Anniversary Banquet

Thursday, April 16, 2026
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
UC Berkeley, Faculty Club

 

We welcome you to join us for the annual Ecology Law Quarterly’s Environmental Awards Banquet on Thursday, April 16th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Faculty Club. The annual Environmental Awards Banquet is a highlight of Berkeley Law’s energy and environmental law program and community. Ecology Law Quarterly (ELQ) is the nation’s premier student-edited law journal focusing on environmental, natural resource, and energy issues.

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