Category: Uncategorized
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The Legal Void Left by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Clean Water Act
November 25, 2025 For a long time, the people of the United States relied on the idea that correctly lined landfills and wastewater facilities operating in accordance with their permits would minimize contamination risks. That assumption has not aged well. Now, modern science paints a different picture. Landfills generate complex chemical mixtures, liners slowly degrade,…
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Who Pays for Climate Change? The Rise of the Legal Battle Over State Tort Claims and Federal Preemption
November 10, 2025 With climate-related disasters continuing to arise, the conversation of cost and who bears the responsibility has become more prevalent. States and cities have taken it amongst themselves to file lawsuits against major oil and gas companies, citing that these companies have contributed to climate change and should thus pay for the rising…
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When Wildlife Becomes Refugees: Lack of Legal Protections
November 3, 2025 Climate displacement is a growing but underexplored issue in the legal and humanitarian fields. While international law increasingly recognizes human “climate refugees”, wildlife forced to flee their homes due to fires, droughts, or floods remain legally invisible. To ensure ecological resilience, environmental law should provide mobile legal protections that follow displaced species…
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Rethinking Reliability: PFAS, Science, and the Gate to Justice
October 27, 2025 Since the 1930’s, chemicals known as PFAS, short for polyfluoroalkyl substances, have made modern life easier. They coat cookware, waterproof fabrics, and strengthen firefighting foams. Yet these “forever chemicals” come with lasting consequences. The name forever comes from the chemical’s properties. Only recently are scientists discovering that the chemicals don’t dissolve naturally…
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The Vanishing Barrier: Why Florida’s Mangroves Are Key to Hurricane Defense
October 20, 2025 When people think of Florida’s coastline, they often picture rows of endless condominiums, resorts, and crystal-clear beaches. But hidden in that tropical paradise lies the hidden protector of the coastlines: Florida’s mangrove forests. These forests, often overshadowed by the loudness of development and tourism, are among Florida’s most important assets during hurricane…
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“The Silent Crisis Facing Florida’s Sea Turtles”
Nov. 24, 2025 Sea turtles have long been known for their patience, longevity and stability. Having been around for over 110 million years and living up to 100 years at a time, they symbolize a long lasting, stable and patient creature that has faced several challenges since its existence and continues to persevere. [1] Of…
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Do Ag-Gag Laws Protect the Agriculture Industry or Diminish the Freedoms of Animal Cruelty Activists?
Oct. 6, 2024 Ag-Gag Laws Explained What are Ag-Gag Laws? Ag-Gag Laws are laws enacted in various states that forbid undercover videos or photography of activity on factory farms and slaughterhouses without the consent of the owners. [1] Animal rights activists or whistleblowers frequently conduct undercover investigations and illicit recordings within agricultural operations to uncover…
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Artificial Intelligence Making a Smart Move towards a Greener Future?
Dec. 1, 2024 Many people associate “artificial intelligence”, or “AI” with its portrayal in media entertainment, as human innovation leading to either catastrophic consequences or innovational benefit. This rise of AI raises an important question: Do we truly understand the relationship between AI and our world? Or perhaps a more pressing inquiry, how does artificial…
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Our Clean Air is in Jeopardy After Recent Loper Bright Ruling
Clean air is essential for our health, our environment, and our future. Safeguarding it is crucial for creating a thriving world for future generations. In order to protect this vital component, the Clean Air Act was established. “The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile…
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The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Advancing Clean Water and Environmental Restoration in South Florida
On November 15th, 2021, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (“BIL”) into effect. [1] The BIL is America’s “largest ever investment in” our infrastructure, water, and environmental programs, totaling over 450 billion dollars, which will provide funding for “over 56,000 specific projects and awards” across the United States. [2]Florida is receiving “$16.2 billion” for various state projects. [3] A…
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The Decline of Florida’s Citrus Empire
by: Michael Bennett When you think of oranges, or citrus for that matter, in the United States Florida is likely one of the first states to come to mind. For many Floridians the Florida orange has become synonymous with the State’s Identity. “Florida Oranges dot [the] license plates, serve as the official state fruit and…
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A Dive into Florida’s Springs: Treasures Under Threat and the Path to Protection
Florida Springs are natural treasures and vital resources that provide ecological, economic, recreational, and cultural benefits, while also supporting diverse ecosystems, and serving as clear windows into the health of the Floridan aquifer, which is a crucial source of drinking water for residents. [1] However, these springs face numerous challenges, including pollution, declining flows, ecological…
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What if I told you, you should stop killing mosquitos? You might be killing your unpaid helper
When you think of genetic engineering, you might be thinking of superheroes such as Spider-Man or Luke Cage, genetically modified organisms (GMO) products, or even surprisingly, human insulin, a medicine used to treat diabetics. What if I told you, there are strains of mosquitos are produced in laboratories, on purpose? [1] Although most people in…
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“Forever Chemicals” in the State of Florida: From Cosmetics to Lagoons
Within the United States, high levels of toxic chemicals which are manufactured and used in our everyday products have been under examination for claims of potential long-term negative effects to people and to the environment. Due to their transferability, toxic chemicals are penetrating our foods and water sources around the country. One group of chemicals of…
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Sustainable Aviation Fuel Is Taking Off: The Economic Benefits and Challenges of a Short-Term Greener Solution
The airline industry makes up 9-12% of all U.S. transportation greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. [1] Though some may think of commercial planes as gas-guzzling flying behemoths, others see them as a greener travel option due to their ability to transport hundreds of people at once. [2] With the view of continuing the push towards a…
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Disposing of Your Medicine: An Ecological Disaster at Every Flush
We take medicine to fix our ailments and solve our most nagging problems. However, that same medication can also create problems in our ecosystems. We are told by government officials that disposing of expired or unused medication at proper disposal sites is important. However, the reasons for this practice are sometimes unclear. The EPA released…
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Taking Public Benefit Corporation to the Next Level: The Patagonia Purpose Trust and Earth as a Shareholder
In September of 2022, Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, Inc., announced that rather than going public, or selling the company, he would be donating it to the planet. Chouinard cleverly coined in his open letter that with this move, “Earth is now our only shareholder”.[1] The ownership of Patagonia, Inc. will transfer 100% of…
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Raine Island: The Shell Protecting the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest collection of coral reefs on Earth. This reef is home to 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish, and 4,000 types of mollusks. [1] However, the importance of the Great Barrier Reef extends far beyond its marine life, The Great Barrier Reef is also one of the largest carbon…
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Open Burn Pits: The New Agent Orange For Our Service Members.
Open burn pits are standard military practice and have been used for years to dispose of waste and trash on military bases. On average, 100 to 200 tons of waste was burned every day at the Joint Base Balad in Iraq. [1] The men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan were exposed to burn…
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AQUIFERS: A LOOK INSIDE FLORIDA’S DEPLETED AQUIFERS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE TO OUR WAY OF LIFE
With the rising gas prices at the pump and the supply chain crisis, many Americans are worried about the cost of transportation and the availability of their favorite consumer goods; however, there is a resource more valuable than any consumer good and a liquid more important than gas. That resource is freshwater. The aquifers that…
Barry Law Environmental and Earth Law Journal 