At this year’s Hawai`i Conservation Conference, rising 3L students Nicholas Altuzarra, Rachel James, and Chase Livingston presented their findings from their Second Year Seminar papers in a forum titled Environmental Law & Policy: Lessons from Tomorrow’s Leaders. Professor Forman, Director of the Environmental Law Program, opened the forum by providing context for the scholarly papers written by the students and introduced the students and their topics.  Each student researched an issue that sits at the intersection of the environment and the law.

Nicholas Altuzarra presented on Incentivizing Private Land Conservation in Maui County Through a New Proposed Tax Exemption.  He discussed a conservation tax exemption as a possible solution to the current approach to taxing conservation easements which lead to problematic impacts on families and potential discouragement of private land conservation in the future.

Rachel James presented on Community Based Renewable Energy – Navigating to Community Power Lessons from Maui Nui Makai Network.  She discussed the need to change the format of renewable energy from that used by fossil fuels to a community led process to inform the development of renewable energy.

Chase Livingston presented on Climate Conscious Regulation in an Age of Disruption.  Chase discussed how fundamental indigenous principles, embodied in Hawai`i law, can be used to advance energy regulation in a climate-conscious manner.  He pointed to the long unchanged system of utility regulation as being at odds with recent case law defining each individual’s right to a clean and healthful environment in Hawai`i.

A great crowd attended the student forum

To view a clip of each students presentation click the links below:

Rachel: https://youtu.be/lbile9xL-Xk

Chase: https://youtu.be/-R4YAbh-3aA

RR – 7/28/18