Climate Change Having Major Effect on U.S. Law, ABA Book Finds

CHICAGO May 25, 2007 – Though Congress has not adopted any laws that explicitly require the control of greenhouse gas emissions, concern over climate change has already begun to have a significant effect on U.S. law. Most of the states and many cities have adopted laws aimed at climate change. Lawsuits have been brought all over the country concerning the applicability of the Clean Air Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, other statutes and the common law doctrine of public nuisance to climate change. The practices of insurance law, securities disclosure, energy facility siting, and other fields have been significantly affected. The widespread assumption that mandatory federal regulation is inevitable is already affecting many corporate practices.

These are the conclusions put forth in a new book, Global Climate Change and U.S. Law, just published by the American Bar Association`s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources. This is the first book to cover the federal, state and local laws and litigation that are rapidly developing around this vital topic.

After a summary of the factual and scientific background, the book addresses the international and national frameworks of climate change law, including clean air regulation, civil remedies and the impact of the Kyoto Protocol on many domestic actions. The book then describes emerging regional, state and local actions, and includes a 50-state survey. Also covered are issues of concern to corporations, including disclosure, fiduciary duties, insurance and subsidies. The book ends with an examination of the legal aspects of various efforts to reduce emissions, including voluntary programs, emissions trading programs and carbon sequestration. In addition, because of the many developments that are occurring on this issue almost daily, the book will offer a Web site where updated content will be made available.

Global Climate Change and U.S. Law was edited by Michael B. Gerrard, former chair of the ABA`s 10,000-member Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources and partner and head of the environmental practice group at Arnold & Porter LLP`s New York office. The chapters in the book were written by many of the country`s leading environmental law scholars.

ABA Book Publishing is one of the world`s most respected legal publishers and produces more than 100 competitively priced books a year. Written by lawyers for lawyers, these books address real-world issues practitioners face day to day. ABA books represent a 25-year tradition of providing high-quality, award-winner, and practical books for practicing lawyers.

With more than 413,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law in a democratic society.

Title: Global Climate Change and U.S. Law

Author: Michael B. Gerrard, editor

Pages: 784 pages

ISBN: 978-1-59031-816-4

Size: Product Code: 5350156

Binding: Paper

Price: $59.95; $49.95 for ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources