University of Oregon School of Law Professor Mary Wood will be a keynote speaker at the 2014 Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, “Running Into Running Out,” from Feb. 27 to March 2 at the UO.

Wood is the Philip H. Knight Professor of Law and faculty director for the school’s Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program.
She speaks on global climate change issues and originated the atmospheric trust litigation approach, which holds governments worldwide accountable for reducing carbon pollution within their jurisdictions. She has published on climate crisis, natural resources and native law issues.

Wood’s latest book, “Nature’s Trust: Environmental Law for a New Ecological Age,” defines the frontiers of public trust law and maps out a full paradigm shift for the way in which government agencies manage public resources. Wood’s research is currently being used in lawsuits and petitions brought on behalf of children and youth throughout the United States and in other countries. These lawsuits, which seek judicial decrees enforcing carbon reduction, represent a “macro” approach to climate crisis calibrated to planetary requirements for climate equilibrium.

The PIELC, organized by UO School of Law students, attracts more than 3,000 attendees and, last year, featured more than 130 panels, workshops and events. It is a forum for lawyers, students, scientists, activists and citizens to gather and discuss issues regarding the planet. Previous years’ conferences have hosted keynote speakers including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Ralph Nader, David Brower, Terry Tempest Williams and Winona LaDuke.

- from the UO School of Law