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Article
Lawyering as if Tomorrow Matters
University of Missouri-Kansas City Law Review (2018)
  • John C. Dernbach
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
Publication Date
Spring 2018
Citation Information
John C. Dernbach. "Lawyering as if Tomorrow Matters" University of Missouri-Kansas City Law Review Vol. 86 Iss. 4 (2018) p. 759 - 778
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/john_dernbach/145/