Climate change continues to dominate the environmental agenda, both at the federal and the state level. Panelists for this briefing will discuss the latest regulatory and legislative initiatives that are likely to be of interest to the wide range of companies, individuals and organizations affected by climate change laws, cases and regulation. As the Environmental Protection Agency moves forward with its greenhouse gas regulations under the Clean Air Act, and as states and regional initiatives implement their own measures to address climate change, businesses are faced with an increasingly complex set of issues, from SEC disclosure obligations, potentially costly compliance burdens, to budding opportunities in the greenhouse gas offset market.

Topics discussed include:

• The status of proposed federal legislation to amend the Clean Air Act to address climate change

• U.S. EPA’s efforts to regulate greenhouse gases under the existing Clean Air Act authorities

• SEC reporting requirements for climate change risks and company disclosure trends

• The developing market for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions offsets

• The status of the enforceable registration of GHG emissions offsets

• The status of registering, banking and trading GHG emissions offsets

• The status and development of the climate change program under California’s AB 32

• Carbon sequestration under California rules

• California-based climate change litigation

• The treatment of greenhouse emissions under the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act

• The status of the filing of common law nuisance claims to adjudicate responsibility for climate change

Our Panelists:

Raymond B. Ludwiszewski, Partner in Gibson Dunn's Environment and Natural Resources practice group in Gibson Dunn’s Washington, D.C. office. Mr. Ludwiszewski has held senior legal positions in the United States government dealing with environmental regulatory issues and litigation in the Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department and represents clients in a wide range of environmental matters.

Thomas J.P. McHenry, Partner in Gibson Dunn's Environment and Natural Resources practice group in Gibson Dunn’s Los Angeles office. Mr. McHenry practices general environmental law with an emphasis on air quality, hazardous waste, environmental diligence, land use and energy issues.

Patrick W. Dennis, Partner in Gibson Dunn's Environment and Natural Resources practice group in Gibson Dunn’s Los Angeles office. Mr. Dennis’s practice includes representing clients in a wide range of environmental matters such as complex transactions with environmental implications and compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws and programs.

Elizabeth A. Ising, Partner in the Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance practice group in Gibson Dunn's Washington, D.C. office. Ms. Ising’s practice focuses on corporate governance, securities regulation and disclosure issues as well as executive compensation.

Gary Gero, President of the Climate Action Reserve. As President of the Climate Action Reserve, Mr. Gero is responsible for ensuring that the organization’s work to certify greenhouse gas emission reductions meet the highest standards for quality, transparency and environmental integrity. Mr. Gero previously managed environmental programs for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and served as Assistant General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Environmental Affairs Department where he focused on air quality, sustainability, and climate change.

MCLE Credit Information:

This program has been approved for credit in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board for a maximum of 1.50 credit hours, of which 1.50 credit hours may be applied toward the areas of professional practice requirement. This course is NOT approved for transitional credit.

California attorneys may claim "self-study" credit for viewing the archived version of this webcast. No certificate of attendance is required for "self-study" credit.