Title of talk: “The Rule of Five: Making Climate History at the Supreme Court

Abstract: Lazarus will discuss his recent book, The Rule of Five: Making Climate History at the Supreme Court, which tells the inside story leading to the Supreme Court’s most important environmental law case, Massachusetts v. EPA, in which the Court ruled that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the threats to public health and welfare from climate change. It is an unlikely yet nonetheless hopeful and inspiring story that both reveals the best of Supreme Court lawyering and underscores the challenges the nation has faced in adopting laws needed to address climate change. Professor Lazarus will also discuss West Virginia v. EPA, a case now pending before the Supreme Court, which threatens to limit EPA’s authority even while scientists are warning that the consequences of climate change are even worse than previously understood.

Masks are required.