R.E.A.C.T. by PECC Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 2 - November 10, 2025
Welcome to Issue 2 of the Renewable Energy and Climate Talk Newsletter (“R.E.A.C.T.”), brought to you by the Pace Energy and Climate Center (“PECC”). This issue offers a global perspective on emerging energy and climate policies. Readers will find updates on international developments, highlights from major global events, and in-depth legal analyses of international climate and energy policy, including its intersections with U.S. law.
PECC is committed to engaging with the Haub Law network and celebrating members who have made notable contributions to the legal field. These spotlights not only recognize their professional achievements but also foster connections between practitioners and scholars. In this issue, we highlight alumnus Christopher Bloch, Haub Law ’10. Additionally, Elizabeth J. Mackay, CFA, Esq., Director and Counsel at the Vander Weele Group, LLC, authored a piece, States React to Environmental Policy’s About-Face.
PECC Energy and Climate Law Scholars Articles
Brazil as a Sustainable AI Hub in the Global South: A Comparative International Law Analysis
- Providing an insightful examination of Brazil's renewable energy and AI potential. The country's abundant natural resources and leadership in clean energy have attracted significant interest from Big Tech companies aiming to develop green AI. Despite notable regulatory gaps, the article highlights Brazil's potential to become a global hub for substainable AI innovation.
The Forgotten Half of Climate Justice: What COP30 Must Remember About the Ocean
- Highlights the important role that oceans play, the international policies and obligations they create to prevent harm to the marine environment amid escalating climate change impacts, the push for mandatory ocean protections, and the significance of marine ecosystems.
The Absence of International Renewable Energy ‘Hard Law’
- Explores "hard" and "soft" international law using the ICJ Advisory Opinion on environmental protection for present and future generations. The solutions provided by international law are imposed on sovereign States, limiting their sovereignty but opening the door to progress, while hard law versus soft law guides and influences discourse on climate change issues such as renewable energy, though binding agreements remain notably lacking on the international stage.
The Future of Cap-and-Trade Markets Following the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Obligations
- Explores the cap-and-trade system, the role of States in fulfilling their obligations under the ICJ opinion to protect climate systems and prevent GHG harm, and how these duties intersect with cap-and-trade as a tool for meeting climate obligations.
From the Courts to the Commission: How U.S. Youth are Globalizing the Fight for Climate Justice
- Closely examines Juliana v. United States and the constitutional challenges raised by the petitioners, highlighting their relentless and compelling pursuit towards recognizing a right to a "stable climate system".
Announcing PECC's first group of Energy & Climate Law Scholars
The Pace Energy and Climate Center (“PECC") is thrilled to announce the 2025–26 Energy and Climate Law Scholars: Isabela Vasconcelos Chelou, Tamika Thomas-Murray, Samirah Aziz, Sophie Bacas, Hannah Frizzell, Thomas Glawson, Ashley Hipnar, Frank Anthony Mattimoe, and Kyle Shepherd.
Highlights from PECC Events
Stay updated on the latest developments shaping the future of energy and environmental law by reading about the takeaways from various events PECC's Energy and Climate Law Scholars have been attending.
- IUCN World Conservation Congress
- On October 9–15, PECC Executive Director, Michael Hamersky, joined several Haub Law professors, alumni, and students in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to convene the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (“IUCN”) World Conservation Congress (“WCC”).
Upcoming Events:
- 11/10–12: Land Use Leadership Alliance Training - Hudson Valley, New York, U.S.
- 11/9–16: 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference COP30 - Belem, Brazil
- 11/12–13: A Mandate for All: the Legal and Civic Imperative to Confront the Climate Emergency Conference - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | New York, U.S. | Online
- PECC is honored to participate in a prominent international event, promoted by FGV Direito Rio, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and the World Commission on Environmental Law. Executive Director Michael Hamersky will moderate the Networking to Magnify Effectiveness panel, while Executive Board member Carington Lowe will serve as the youth commentator for Corporate Climate Action: Accountability and the Path to Net Zero.
- 12/11: The Future of Utility Regulation 2025 - Managing Competition Symposium - New York City, New York, U.S.
Upcoming Public Comment Filings
- 11/10: Comments due on Upstate and Downstate Regional Residential Weatherization Proposals in Case 25-M-0248, addressing 2026–30 non-LMI energy efficiency and building electrification portfolios.
R.E.A.C.T. by PECC Podcast
Newest Episode: EPA Proposes to Rescind Obama's 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding
PECC joins Haub Law students in submitting a public comment to deny U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) proposal to rescind Obama's 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. EPA has proposed to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) Endangerment Finding for all GHG emission standards for light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles that served as the legal basis for regulation under the Clean Air Act. The proposal, published on August 1, 2025, is a significant policy shift by the Trump administration and if finalized and upheld by the courts could lead to the repeal of numerous climate-related regulations.
R.E.A.C.T. by PECC Newsletter Curators:
Frances Gothard J.D. '26 | Carington Lowe J.D. '26