About NDEL

Since 2011, students have organized the New Directions in Environmental Law Conference (NDEL) to examine changes in and novel approaches to Environmental Law. We are excited to host NDEL 2027 on February 26 and 27, 2027, with the theme Rooted: How Location, Lineage, and Livelihood Define Environmentalism.

The NDEL conference was inaugurated in 2011 as a space to discuss novel approaches to the practice of environmental law and the creation of environmental policy. By combining academics, activists, scientists, and policy-makers under one roof, NDEL brought together a new community to together discuss – and solve – environmental challenges. It is an ongoing conversation between high-level practitioners, academics, and the next generation of environmental and policy leaders.

We welcome both students and practitioners from a range of disciplines. The conference is free to attend.

The conference will take place at Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut. More details on this year’s conference schedule, including keynote speakers, panels, research poster sessions, and a networking mixer, to come.

Prior Conferences

Past conference themes have included State & Local Action For Climate Solutions and Global Climate Justice.

In 2026, students and professionals gathered to discuss Collective Reimagining: Channeling Conviction into Change.

The event highlighted keynote speakers Rachel Rothschild and Mary Kathryn Nagle. The panels held included:

  • “Governing the Grid: Re-Energizing Utility Law” with Jamie M. Van Nostrand, Kit Kennedy, Josh Macey, Dena Adler, John Rhodes, & moderated by Caroline Solomon.
  • “Human Rights-Based Approaches to Environmental Jurisprudence” with Smita Narula, Uche Ewelukwa, Jean Carmalt, Kate Cook, & moderated by Ashley Gentile.
  • “Biden Climate Staffers on Reclaiming Climate Ambition” with Maggie Thomas, Medha Raj, Katie Schlick, & moderated by Maria Michalos.
  • “The Fight for the Rights of Nature: Developments and Lessons from Around the World” with Irikefe Dafe, Cormac Cullinan, Camila Bustos, & moderated by Florencia Perez.
  • “The Future of the Law of the Sea during Stormy Weather” with James Kraska, Cymie Payne, Benedict Kingsbury, & moderated by Tom Murray.
  • “Recent Developments in International Climate Change Law and Implications for the U.S.”with Michael Gerrard, Susan Biniaz, Camila Bustos, & moderated by Achinthi Vithanage.
  • “Beyond Polarization: Pathways to Durable Decarbonization” with Laur Hesse Fisher, Britt Zwierzchowski Tisler, Gil Damon, & moderated by Alex Posner.
  • “Defending Land and Life: Indigenous Sovereignty in Environmental Law” with Dov Korff-Korn, Frank Bibeau, Pat Gonzales-Rogers, & moderated by Eli Calhoun.
  • “Animals and the Courts: Advocating for the Voiceless” with Laura Fox, Stijn van Osch, Mary Hollingsworth, & moderated by Doug Kysar.

To read more about sessions and prior conferences, please see the NDEL Student Reporters’ posts at pelr.blogs.pace.edu.