Environmental Law Institute
Encyclopedia
The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) is a non-profit, non-advocacy environmental group, which specializes in producing publications and research that target legal practitioners, business leaders, land managers, land use planners, environmentalists, journalists, and lawmakers. ELI also convenes conferences to promote the exchange of ideas; holds seminars to educate legal practitioners and business leaders; and publishes original research, both as monographs and in its periodicals, the Environmental Law Reporter, The Environmental Forum, and the National Wetlands Newsletter.
ELI fosters innovative, just, and practical law and policy solutions to enable leaders across borders and sectors to make environmental, economic, and social progress. ELI:
. Other researchers include scientists, policy analysts, and visiting scholars from outside the United States.
Associates: The ELI Associates Program is the preeminent network for current and future leaders in the environmental law and policy profession. Members from all sectors gain access to basic training through ELI’s respected Boot Camps, timely analysis of issues in ELI’s policy and law journals and its website, sophisticated seminars with experts debating pressing topics from diverse perspectives, and unmatched opportunities to connect with public officials, friends and peers at events such as the annual ELI Award Dinner. The program offers members a unique suite of benefits and contacts that is invaluable to today's—and tomorrow's—environmental professional.
ELI associates pay an annual subscription fee. Unlike other member-based organizations, ELI does not represent its associates or try to promote their activities. Associates receive ELI’s major publications at free or discounted prices, and their employees attend ELI’s educational seminars, such as its Boot Camps on Environmental Law, free of charge.
Board: A Board of Directors provides oversight to the Institute. The board members are leaders from federal and state government, industry, the private bar, citizen organizations, and academia.
Funding: Most of ELI’s funding comes from project-specific grants from major organizations, foundations, and government agencies.
, and water pollution
. Within the Oceans Program are publications on sustainable fisheries
; conferences to develop laws that foster ecosystem-based management
; and continuing legal education seminars on issues ranging from ocean-based shipping to the potential for wave-generated electricity. Each of the five major program areas is this diverse, and most of the research done by ELI has such a focus on single issues. ELI typically publishes the results of its research in Research Reports.
Vision and Mission
ELI’s vision calls for “a healthy environment, prosperous economies, and vibrant communities founded on the rule of law.” What ELI does to help guide society toward that vision is described in its mission statement:ELI fosters innovative, just, and practical law and policy solutions to enable leaders across borders and sectors to make environmental, economic, and social progress. ELI:
- Builds the skills and capacity of tomorrow’s leaders and institutions
- Researches and analyzes complex and pressing environmental challenges
- Promotes and disseminates the best thinking through print and electronic media
- Convenes people with diverse perspectives to build understanding through robust debate
Structure
Research & Policy Staff: A portion of ELI’s researchers are attorneys with specialties in various aspects of environmental lawEnvironmental law
Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
. Other researchers include scientists, policy analysts, and visiting scholars from outside the United States.
Associates: The ELI Associates Program is the preeminent network for current and future leaders in the environmental law and policy profession. Members from all sectors gain access to basic training through ELI’s respected Boot Camps, timely analysis of issues in ELI’s policy and law journals and its website, sophisticated seminars with experts debating pressing topics from diverse perspectives, and unmatched opportunities to connect with public officials, friends and peers at events such as the annual ELI Award Dinner. The program offers members a unique suite of benefits and contacts that is invaluable to today's—and tomorrow's—environmental professional.
ELI associates pay an annual subscription fee. Unlike other member-based organizations, ELI does not represent its associates or try to promote their activities. Associates receive ELI’s major publications at free or discounted prices, and their employees attend ELI’s educational seminars, such as its Boot Camps on Environmental Law, free of charge.
Board: A Board of Directors provides oversight to the Institute. The board members are leaders from federal and state government, industry, the private bar, citizen organizations, and academia.
Funding: Most of ELI’s funding comes from project-specific grants from major organizations, foundations, and government agencies.
Major Research Areas
Presently, ELI’s research is organized into five major areas: climate and energy; international programs; innovation in governance; land and biodiversity; and water resources. Under each of these five umbrellas are the research programs, most of which are managed independently of other programs. For example, under Water Resources there are programs addressing oceans, wetlands, international watersInternational waters
The terms international waters or trans-boundary waters apply where any of the following types of bodies of water transcend international boundaries: oceans, large marine ecosystems, enclosed or semi-enclosed regional seas and estuaries, rivers, lakes, groundwater systems , and wetlands.Oceans,...
, and water pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
. Within the Oceans Program are publications on sustainable fisheries
Sustainable fisheries
Sustainability in fisheries combines theoretical disciplines, such as the population dynamics of fisheries, with practical strategies, such as avoiding overfishing through techniques such as individual fishing quotas, curtailing destructive and illegal fishing practices by lobbying for appropriate...
; conferences to develop laws that foster ecosystem-based management
Ecosystem-based management
Ecosystem-based management is an environmental management approach that recognizes the full array of interactions within an ecosystem, including humans, rather than considering single issues, species, or ecosystem services in isolation Ecosystem-based management is an environmental management...
; and continuing legal education seminars on issues ranging from ocean-based shipping to the potential for wave-generated electricity. Each of the five major program areas is this diverse, and most of the research done by ELI has such a focus on single issues. ELI typically publishes the results of its research in Research Reports.
| Climate and Energy | International Programs | Innovation in Governance | Land & Biodiversity | Water Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate and Energy | Africa Program Armed Conflict and the Environment China Program Educational Workshops India Program Inter-America Program International Waters Program Judicial Education Program Oceans Visiting Scholars |
Brownfields Center Center for Energy, Economy & Innovation Center for State, Local & Regional Environmental Programs Community Environmental Health & Justice Endangered Environmental Laws Environmental Management & Governance Green Building & Indoor Environment Judicial Education Program Nanotechnology Initiative |
Biodiversity Conservation Ecosystem Services Invasive Species Long-Term Stewardship of Contaminated Sites State Biodiversity Sustainable Use of Land |
Oceans Water Pollution Prevention Water Quality Water Resources Western Water Wetlands Conservation |
Publications
Most of the work done by the ELI research and policy staff becomes reports that are produced in-house and published electronically. ELI makes these reports available, usually free of charge, on their Web site. In addition, ELI’s publications arm—the ELI Press—produces a number of periodicals and books that are well renowned in their field.Periodicals
ELI’s periodicals are considered the publications of record in their respective fields.- The Environmental Law Reporter (ELR) News & Analysis is the Institute’s flagship publication and is noted as the most often cited environmental law review. Publishing submissions from academic and practicing attorneys, the journal’s authors review court cases, laws, legal trends, and agency actions. Articles address topics in state and federal law. ELR News & Analysis is issued 12 times per year and has a circulation of 850 organizational subscribers. A recent addition to the ELR suite of products is ELR India Update, a quarterly newsletter to inform environmental professionals about new developments in Indian environmental law. Written by the premier Indian law firm Kochhar & Co. and edited by ELR’s professional staff, this reporting service covers environmental legal and policy developments at the national and state level.
- The Environmental Forum (TEF) is ELI’s non-technical publication, founded in 1982. Like ELR, it publishes articles primarily written by authors outside ELI’s research staff. Unlike ELR, however, TEF is written for a general audience. It keeps its readership abreast of developments in environmentalism, particularly with respect to legislation and enforcement. TEF is available only to ELI Associates as a membership benefit and is not a subscription item. It comes out bimonthly to a circulation of 3500.
- The Journal of Energy and Environmental Law (JEEL) is a student run journal published by The George Washington University Law School in cooperation with ELI. Issued twice each year as a supplement to ELI’s Environmental Law Reporter (ELR) News & Analysis, the first edition was released in July 2010, with the subsequent edition to appear in January 2011. The annual subscription rate is USD$30. As its name implies, the Journal will focus on both energy-related and environment-related legal and policy issues and their intersections. We are particularly interested in articles addressing international treaties, legislative initiatives in other countries, U.S. federal and state legislation, and case law developments dealing with issues
- The National Wetlands Newsletter (NWN) is the Institute’s journal on wetlands law and policy. The 24-page, bimonthly newsletter has been published since 1979. It covers wetland regulation, policy, science, and management, and includes articles written by outside wetland professionals and academics as well as news items contributed by the editorial staff. NWN has over 1000 readers.
Books
ELI Press publishes books by outside authors which are sold via telephone and through the online bookstore of the ELI Press. Over the years, some of the most popular publications have been The Practical Guide to Environmental Management, soon in its 11th edition, and The Environmental Law Deskbook, now in its eighth edition. The latter is one of dozens of types of Deskbooks that ELI has produced.List of Selected Associates
- AIG Environmental
- Arnold & Porter LLP
- AT&TAT&TAT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
- Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
- Chevron CorporationChevron CorporationChevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
- Defenders of WildlifeDefenders of WildlifeDefenders of Wildlife is a United States-based, 501 non-profit organization founded in 1947, "dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities." The organization is active in political interventions and lobbying aimed at protection of wildlife, and...
- Environmental Defense
- Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest
- Farella Braun + Martel LLP
- General ElectricGeneral ElectricGeneral Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
Company - Hogan & Hartson LLP
- IBM Corporation
- Intel Corporation
- International Center for Technology AssessmentInternational Center for Technology AssessmentThe International Center for Technology Assessment is a U.S. non-profit bi-partisan organization, based in Washington, D.C.. ICTA aims to provide the public with full assessments and analyses of technological impacts on society...
- ITTITT CorporationITT Corporation is a global diversified manufacturing company based in the United States. ITT participates in global markets including water and fluids management, defense and security, and motion and flow control...
Industries, Inc. - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Lockheed MartinLockheed MartinLockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
Corporation - National Resources Defense Council
- Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & WalkerPaul, Hastings, Janofsky & WalkerPaul Hastings LLP, formerly known as Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, is a leading international law firm with 18 offices worldwide. Paul Hastings serves a diverse client base that includes many of the top financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies....
LLP - PfizerPfizerPfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
Inc. - Sidley AustinSidley AustinSidley Austin LLP, formerly known as Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, is one of the oldest law firms in the world. It is the sixth-largest U.S.-based corporate law firm with more than 1,650 lawyers, annual revenues of more than one billion dollars, and offices in 17 cities worldwide, with the most...
LLP - Sierra ClubSierra ClubThe Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
- The Soap and Detergent Association
- South Carolina Environmental Law Project, Inc.
- Southern Environmental Law Center
- WeyerhaeuserWeyerhaeuserWeyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
- World Wildlife Fund