Category Archives: Environment

Advancing the Rights of Nature

Posted on February 8, 2026 by Harry Katz

I’m pleased to share that a paper I wrote for a class on environmental law was published last month by the American Indian Law Journal. Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Clearing the Air

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Harry Katz

Hannah Ritchie’s new book, Clearing the Air, answers 50 common questions about climate change. These questions often arise from contradictory claims and outright misinformation that roil public debate and sow doubt and confusion about what we should do. Ritchie provides clear, well-researched information to dispel myths and misinformation. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Energy, Environment | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations

Posted on December 30, 2025 by Harry Katz

In 2023, a group of Pacific Northwest tribal leaders met on Orcas Island off the coast of Washington State for conversations about living in the spirit of right and respectful relations with creation, history and the law, identity, honor and nature. This book is the result. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Environment | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Is a River Alive?

Posted on August 31, 2025 by Harry Katz

In this fabulously written book, Robert Macfarlane journeys to rivers in three very different landscapes — the cloud-forests of Ecuador, the city of Chennai, India, and the wilderness of northern Quebec — seeking answers to the question are rivers alive and what would it mean if they were? Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Environment, Law and justice | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

My Testimony at the EPA

Posted on August 20, 2025 by Harry Katz

The EPA is holding virtual public hearings this week on its proposal to rescind the 2009 finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare. If they get away with it, this will gut most greenhouse gas regulations in the US. Here’s what I said to them. Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

The EPA’s “Dagger to the Heart” of US Climate Regulation

Posted on August 10, 2025 by Harry Katz

On August 1, 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced it was proposing to reconsider its 2009 endangerment finding about greenhouse gas emissions. “Reconsidering” here means rescind, revoke, roll back. In this post I look at why this action is a dagger to the heart of greenhouse gas regulation. Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change

Posted on July 27, 2025 by Harry Katz

There was a small glimmer of good news on climate change last week: The International Court of Justice ruled that nation states have legal obligations under climate treaties and customary international law to protect “the climate system and other parts of the environment from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.” Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Law and justice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Trees Are Speaking

Posted on June 14, 2025 by Harry Katz

The Trees Are Speaking is a wonderful book about the old-growth salmon forests of Oregon, Washington, Vancouver Island and Maine and about the people trying save them. It explores the beautiful yet surprising connection between trees and salmon that sustains these forests and may very well help sustain us too. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Environment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Carbon Footprint of Using ChatGPT

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Harry Katz

There’s a growing concern that our increasing use of artificial intelligence is putting a strain on electricity grids around the world. More use of AI means companies like Google, OpenAI, and Meta are building more data centers stuffed with more … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Environment | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Year Without Summer

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Harry Katz

The eruption of Mount Tambora in April 1815 is the largest known eruption of the last 2,000 years. It knocked weather patterns across Europe and the eastern US out of kilter. Crops failed. Unrest followed. The Year Without Summer details Tambora’s impact on people, economics, politics and climate. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Environment, History | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments