About the A.B. in Ecology: Environmental Policy & Law

Environmental policy involves laws and regulations pertaining to environmental issues including endangered species conservation, water and air pollution, waste management, and natural resource management. These policies often integrate social outcomes, such as their potential impact on human health and well-being.

Environmental law involves the study of regulatory programs in the United States, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, etc. Environmental lawyers often represent clients in environmentally-related cases, provide counsel for those drafting environmental policy, work for non-profit organizations or private sector companies and advise clients on issues such as compliance with environmentally-focused regulations.

Current policy-related projects occurring at the River Basin Center include: recommendations to water issues facing the U.S. Interstate 85 Corridor, tackling the nexus of marine, climate and international law—the blue carbon law, researching the Clean Water Act’s limitations on nonpoint source pollution, such as fertilizer runoff and animal waste entering U.S. waterways, as well as understanding the barriers farmers face in adopting conservation practices. 

If you would like a science-focused career in public and international affairs or are interested in pursuing a Juris Doctor degree, consider this track!