Michael Burger
@profmikeburger.bsky.social
Executive Director, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
Senior Research Scholar, Columbia Law School
Senior Research Scholar, Columbia Law School
Looking forward to moderating this panel w/ leaders of some of the most impactful NGOs litigating to save our democracy: @abbiedillen.bsky.social of @earthjustice.org, @skyeperryman.bsky.social of @democracyforward.org, and Rob Weissman of @publiccitizen.bsky.social, plus @newjerseyoag.bsky.social
⭕ 📆On Monday, 9/22, join this #ClimateWeekNYC event titled Climate Change & Democracy, a lively discussion between leaders moderated by our Executive Director, Michael Burger (@profmikeburger.bsky.social).
Register ➡️ buff.ly/P1qwIXH @earthjustice.org
Register ➡️ buff.ly/P1qwIXH @earthjustice.org
September 18, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Looking forward to moderating this panel w/ leaders of some of the most impactful NGOs litigating to save our democracy: @abbiedillen.bsky.social of @earthjustice.org, @skyeperryman.bsky.social of @democracyforward.org, and Rob Weissman of @publiccitizen.bsky.social, plus @newjerseyoag.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Burger
⭕ 📆On Monday, 9/22, join this #ClimateWeekNYC event titled Climate Change & Democracy, a lively discussion between leaders moderated by our Executive Director, Michael Burger (@profmikeburger.bsky.social).
Register ➡️ buff.ly/P1qwIXH @earthjustice.org
Register ➡️ buff.ly/P1qwIXH @earthjustice.org
September 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
⭕ 📆On Monday, 9/22, join this #ClimateWeekNYC event titled Climate Change & Democracy, a lively discussion between leaders moderated by our Executive Director, Michael Burger (@profmikeburger.bsky.social).
Register ➡️ buff.ly/P1qwIXH @earthjustice.org
Register ➡️ buff.ly/P1qwIXH @earthjustice.org
Major decision from the High Court in Hamm: In a lawsuit brought by @germanwatch.bsky.social on behalf of Peruvian farmer Saul Lliuya, the court dismissed the claim, determined that German emitters may be held liable for adaptation costs in other countries. Summary at the Sabin Center database
Luciano Lliuya v. RWE AG - Climate Change Litigation
climatecasechart.com
May 28, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Major decision from the High Court in Hamm: In a lawsuit brought by @germanwatch.bsky.social on behalf of Peruvian farmer Saul Lliuya, the court dismissed the claim, determined that German emitters may be held liable for adaptation costs in other countries. Summary at the Sabin Center database
The @nytimes.com reports Trump has directed a broad policy of non-enforcement of federal rules. Citing to Heckler v. Cheney, a SCOTUS decision from 40 years ago, the article reports that non-enforcement decisions may be unreviewable by courts. Not exactly.
Trump and DOGE Are Planning Deregulation at a Massive Scale
The White House will soon move to rapidly repeal or freeze rules that affect health, food, workplace safety, transportation and more.
www.nytimes.com
April 15, 2025 at 11:18 AM
The @nytimes.com reports Trump has directed a broad policy of non-enforcement of federal rules. Citing to Heckler v. Cheney, a SCOTUS decision from 40 years ago, the article reports that non-enforcement decisions may be unreviewable by courts. Not exactly.
This was an extraordinary event, and I would recommend its panels and presentations to scientists, legal researchers and academics, lawyers, policymakers, and others interested in the intersection of attribution science and climate law.
📣NEW Sabin Center report on the Attribution Science & Climate Law Conference: scholarship.law.columbia.edu/sabin_climat...
🌎 The conference brought together researchers to discuss the status of climate attribution research and its relevance to climate law & policy
Check out the 🪡⤵️
🌎 The conference brought together researchers to discuss the status of climate attribution research and its relevance to climate law & policy
Check out the 🪡⤵️
April 1, 2025 at 7:55 PM
This was an extraordinary event, and I would recommend its panels and presentations to scientists, legal researchers and academics, lawyers, policymakers, and others interested in the intersection of attribution science and climate law.
We @sabincenter.bsky.social have been writing about the legal significance of climate change’s public health impacts - at the ICJ, the European Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, elsewhere. This is predictable, and predictably bad
www.propublica.org/article/nih-...
www.propublica.org/article/nih-...
NIH Ends Future Funding to Study the Health Effects of Climate Change
It’s unclear whether the guidance will impact active grants, but it appears to halt opportunities for future studies. One climate health expert said the directive would have a “devastating” impact on ...
www.propublica.org
March 24, 2025 at 9:09 PM
We @sabincenter.bsky.social have been writing about the legal significance of climate change’s public health impacts - at the ICJ, the European Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, elsewhere. This is predictable, and predictably bad
www.propublica.org/article/nih-...
www.propublica.org/article/nih-...
Spoke w @alejandrabee.bsky.social @npr.org about yesterday's jury award against @greenpeace.org: "...the effect of a verdict like this...could be to chill speech, to make opponents more reluctant to be vocal in their in their opposition to major projects."
This is why anti-SLAPP legislation exists
This is why anti-SLAPP legislation exists
Jury says Greenpeace owes hundreds of millions of dollars for Dakota pipeline protest
Experts say the verdict has relevance for free speech issues nationwide.
www.npr.org
March 20, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Spoke w @alejandrabee.bsky.social @npr.org about yesterday's jury award against @greenpeace.org: "...the effect of a verdict like this...could be to chill speech, to make opponents more reluctant to be vocal in their in their opposition to major projects."
This is why anti-SLAPP legislation exists
This is why anti-SLAPP legislation exists
Spoke to Simmone Shah @time.com about EPA's "reconsideration" of the Endangerment Finding, and noted that they will have to show it "was wrong or was not based on sufficient scientific evidence. And there's no basis for that. The science is quite clear, and the consensus is global.”
What Legal Experts Say About Trump's EPA Deregulations
The EPA's announcements do not mean that the agency has legal authority to institute the proposed rollbacks.
time.com
March 14, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Spoke to Simmone Shah @time.com about EPA's "reconsideration" of the Endangerment Finding, and noted that they will have to show it "was wrong or was not based on sufficient scientific evidence. And there's no basis for that. The science is quite clear, and the consensus is global.”
EPA is going to revisit the Endangerment Finding. Science will not support reversal, so EPA will look for a legal basis. For this, they will hope SCOTUS will reverse MA v EPA holding that CO2 is an "air pollutant" under the Clean Air Act. But as this book chapter by Phil Barnett shows, IT IS.
papers.ssrn.com
March 13, 2025 at 1:57 PM
EPA is going to revisit the Endangerment Finding. Science will not support reversal, so EPA will look for a legal basis. For this, they will hope SCOTUS will reverse MA v EPA holding that CO2 is an "air pollutant" under the Clean Air Act. But as this book chapter by Phil Barnett shows, IT IS.
Speaking with @clarkmindock.bsky.social about EPA's deregulatory agenda announcmeent: "This administration will have a hard time doing what it wants to do within the confines of the law.”
‘The siege of Carthage’: Breaking down the Trump EPA’s major climate regulation rollbacks
The Trump EPA just dropped a bomb on climate and environmental regulations.
www.landmark.earth
March 13, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Speaking with @clarkmindock.bsky.social about EPA's deregulatory agenda announcmeent: "This administration will have a hard time doing what it wants to do within the confines of the law.”
Appreciated the opportunity to reflect a bit on next week’s trial in Energy Transfer’s lawsuit against Greenpeace: “It’s and a classic SLAPP….and a really, really big one.”
insideclimatenews.org/news/2102202...
insideclimatenews.org/news/2102202...
A Lawsuit Against Greenpeace Is Meant to Bankrupt It and Deter Public Protests, Environmental Groups Warn - Inside Climate News
“This case and its outcome should be the concern of every American,” a legal expert says as the Dakota Access Pipeline trial is set to begin.
insideclimatenews.org
February 21, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Appreciated the opportunity to reflect a bit on next week’s trial in Energy Transfer’s lawsuit against Greenpeace: “It’s and a classic SLAPP….and a really, really big one.”
insideclimatenews.org/news/2102202...
insideclimatenews.org/news/2102202...
I guess permitting reform was unnecessary and if the President says "emergency" anything goes? Seems like it's not really consistent with the law. Olivia Guarna and I wrote a bit about this scenario over the Climate Law Blog (blogs.law.columbia.edu/climatechang...)
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/c...
Trump Administration Moves to Fast-Track Hundreds of Fossil Fuel Projects
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has cited President Trump’s claim of a national energy emergency to speed up permits for new gas pipelines and other projects.
www.nytimes.com
February 19, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I guess permitting reform was unnecessary and if the President says "emergency" anything goes? Seems like it's not really consistent with the law. Olivia Guarna and I wrote a bit about this scenario over the Climate Law Blog (blogs.law.columbia.edu/climatechang...)
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/19/c...
Very excited about our upcoming Legal Colloquium: The New Climate Fiduciaries @sabincenter.bsky.social @columbialawschool.bsky.social climate.law.columbia.edu/events/legal...
Legal Colloquium: The New Climate Fiduciaries | Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
Explore the FULL AGENDA to learn more about the panel topics and speakers.
FLYER
PLEASE NOTE: This is an in-person event but will also be livestreamed.
climate.law.columbia.edu
February 18, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Very excited about our upcoming Legal Colloquium: The New Climate Fiduciaries @sabincenter.bsky.social @columbialawschool.bsky.social climate.law.columbia.edu/events/legal...
The Global Climate Change Litigation Database, hosted @sabincenter.bsky.social @columbiauniversity.bsky.social, has hit its millenial mark: 1000 cases from some 65 jurisdictions around the world, reflecting the profound salience of climate litigation as a means of governance, and a tool for justice
January 30, 2025 at 7:29 PM
The Global Climate Change Litigation Database, hosted @sabincenter.bsky.social @columbiauniversity.bsky.social, has hit its millenial mark: 1000 cases from some 65 jurisdictions around the world, reflecting the profound salience of climate litigation as a means of governance, and a tool for justice
"Trump’s effort to terminate the current roster of IGs and, if one allows oneself to speculate, install loyalists who will turn a blind eye to what is to come, is unprecedented and profoundly troubling" - w/ @zteirstein.bsky.social @gristnews.bsky.social about Trump firing federal Inspectors General
'Paranoia and distrust': How Trump's mass firing of government watchdogs will affect climate policy
Experts fear the president will replace the fired inspectors general with loyalists who will turn a blind eye to corruption.
grist.org
January 30, 2025 at 6:17 PM
"Trump’s effort to terminate the current roster of IGs and, if one allows oneself to speculate, install loyalists who will turn a blind eye to what is to come, is unprecedented and profoundly troubling" - w/ @zteirstein.bsky.social @gristnews.bsky.social about Trump firing federal Inspectors General
Trump administration is 0-1. Many more losses on the way.
January 29, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Trump administration is 0-1. Many more losses on the way.
Spoke with @zhirji.bsky.social @bloomberglp.bsky.social about last week's assault on our climate policy, environmental protections, and renewable energy development: "“The sheer threat of it kind of gets undermined by the onslaught.”
Trump’s Week One Ends With a Heap of Climate Rollbacks
The new president issued a barrage of orders seeking to boost fossil fuels and reverse policies that address global warming.
www.bloomberg.com
January 27, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Spoke with @zhirji.bsky.social @bloomberglp.bsky.social about last week's assault on our climate policy, environmental protections, and renewable energy development: "“The sheer threat of it kind of gets undermined by the onslaught.”
"If there’s an energy emergency and we need energy, then you would want to produce energy, including wind and solar energy ... It’s such a clear and obvious inconsistency that it lays bare what’s really driving this, which is fossil fuel interest.” Talking EOs w/ @chloeaiello.bsky.social @inc.com
Trump Targets Climate Tech on Day One
President Trump unleashed a flurry of actions that could have major impacts on climate technology and the future of the U.S. energy industry.
www.inc.com
January 22, 2025 at 3:27 PM
"If there’s an energy emergency and we need energy, then you would want to produce energy, including wind and solar energy ... It’s such a clear and obvious inconsistency that it lays bare what’s really driving this, which is fossil fuel interest.” Talking EOs w/ @chloeaiello.bsky.social @inc.com
There is so much noise in the Executive Orders issued yesterday, and so much that is so obviously legally dubious. I'm going to list here some relevant resources that help shed light on how things might play out. 1/7
January 21, 2025 at 2:20 PM
There is so much noise in the Executive Orders issued yesterday, and so much that is so obviously legally dubious. I'm going to list here some relevant resources that help shed light on how things might play out. 1/7
Proud of the team @sabincenter.bsky.social and our partners at EDF and @csldf.org who got these critical resources refreshed and ready to roll for the years ahead. Keeping track of Trump's assault on climate, environmental and public health protections is no easy task, but these tools will help.
🚨 🚀🌍 Today, the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law is launching three online tools – the Climate Backtracker, the Inflation Reduction Act Tracker & the Silencing Science Tracker – to keep tabs on the Trump administration’s climate rollbacks & anti-science actions: https://buff.ly/4jsf5HJ
🧵⤵️
🧵⤵️
January 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Proud of the team @sabincenter.bsky.social and our partners at EDF and @csldf.org who got these critical resources refreshed and ready to roll for the years ahead. Keeping track of Trump's assault on climate, environmental and public health protections is no easy task, but these tools will help.