We are honored to introduce Ecology Law Quarterly’s 2024-25 Annual Review, presented in this 52.2 edition. The Annual Review is unique in authorship, scope, and scale: All pieces within this edition are scholarship written by Berkeley Law students and recent graduates. The range of topics analyzed reflects the wide scope of environmental law as a field, as this edition includes works addressing developments in environmental, land use, natural resources, and energy law that are shaping current conversations in these fields. Further, many of these pieces reflect the nature of environmental law and analysis of environmental issues as multifaceted and inherently requiring consideration of environmental justice, tribal sovereignty, community participation, and changes to federal policy priorities that accompany changes in presidential administrations. While many of the areas covered are in a state of flux at the time of publication, we are certain that the analysis of these developments’ immediate and projected impacts will provide long-lasting insight.
The first portion of this year’s Annual Review features seven student Notes written during the Environmental Law Writing Seminar under the supervision of Professor Sharon Jacobs. In these Notes, Seminar students present novel arguments grounded in the holding of a recent major environmental case, a case with environmental law implications, or a major new law or regulation. This analysis is presented in the form of a full-length academic article.
The second portion features six short In Briefs. These pieces are written throughout the academic year under the editorial directions of ELQ’s Books & Research Editor. In Briefs allow students, particularly students in their first year of law school, to publish academic scholarship. These pieces address significant recent cases implicating environmental law and analyze their impacts on the field.
ELQ’s Annual Review is a time-honored tradition, providing cutting-edge analysis of major developments in environmental law and serving as a platform for emerging scholars and practitioners to present their ideas. This year’s edition contributes to the scholarly conversation around topics ranging from water rights to climate change to toxics regulation. Each piece has been a significant undertaking for student authors and editors, and we would like to thank the ELQ publishing board for all of their work along the way. It takes a village to publish ELQ, and we are grateful for the dedicated and thoughtful work each student editor has contributed along the way.
