Christophe Courchesne
@courchez.bsky.social
Advocate, law professor, New Englander. Associate Dean/Director, Environmental Law Center and Advocacy Clinic, Vermont Law and Graduate School. Climate, environmental justice, natural resource protection & polluter accountability. He/him.
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I am getting asked a lot how we can teach environmental law now, when its foundations are in such chaos. | Christophe Courchesne
I am getting asked a lot how we can teach environmental law now, when its foundations are in such chaos. This was an especially challenging question to answer this week, with the endangerment repeal p...
www.linkedin.com
Some thoughts and kudos to end the VLGS summer session, which was glorious and upbeat amid it all. Hard time to teach environmental law, to be sure, but we must keep at it, and my students and colleagues are inspiring.
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
Particulate pollution in the air down a whopping 22% in NYC’s congestion pricing zone.
Not only are the streets less congested, but so are our lungs.
e360.yale.edu/digest/new-y...
Not only are the streets less congested, but so are our lungs.
e360.yale.edu/digest/new-y...
In New York City, Congestion Pricing Leads to Marked Drop in Pollution
e360.yale.edu
December 9, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Particulate pollution in the air down a whopping 22% in NYC’s congestion pricing zone.
Not only are the streets less congested, but so are our lungs.
e360.yale.edu/digest/new-y...
Not only are the streets less congested, but so are our lungs.
e360.yale.edu/digest/new-y...
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
December 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
Here comes the sun! (And wind and storage…) 🎶 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 apnews.com/article/clim...
Solar and wind power has grown faster than electricity demand this year, report says
A new analysis of solar and wind power shows its generation worldwide has outpaced electricity demand this year.
apnews.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Here comes the sun! (And wind and storage…) 🎶 🧪🔌💡☀️💨💧🔋 apnews.com/article/clim...
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
I remember long debates on whether "Climate Shock" as book title would come across as catastrophizing.
10 years later, it's an above-the-fold NYT headline.
10 years later, it's an above-the-fold NYT headline.
November 28, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I remember long debates on whether "Climate Shock" as book title would come across as catastrophizing.
10 years later, it's an above-the-fold NYT headline.
10 years later, it's an above-the-fold NYT headline.
VPIRG and Vermont Environmental Advocacy Clinic Defend Vermont’s Climate Superfund Act in Amicus Brief www.vermontlaw.edu/news-and-eve...
VPIRG and Vt. Environmental Advocacy Clinic Urge Court to Uphold Landmark Climate Adaptation Law
SOUTH ROYALTON, Vt. (November 24, 2025) — Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Environmental Advocacy Clinic, on behalf of the Vermont Public Interest
www.vermontlaw.edu
November 24, 2025 at 7:43 PM
VPIRG and Vermont Environmental Advocacy Clinic Defend Vermont’s Climate Superfund Act in Amicus Brief www.vermontlaw.edu/news-and-eve...
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
While the rest of the world was at #COP30, the U.S. government was busy rolling back bedrock environmental protections www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/c...
In One Week, Trump Moves to Reshape U.S. Environmental Policy
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
While the rest of the world was at #COP30, the U.S. government was busy rolling back bedrock environmental protections www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/c...
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
COP30 TEXT ANALYSIS: One way to read dense COP text is to focus on the verbs. These are helpfully italicised – and for good reason.
MOSTLY INACTIVE: Carbon Brief analysis of the “global mutirão” text finds 69 inactive verbs, requiring no action, against 32 active verbs.
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MOSTLY INACTIVE: Carbon Brief analysis of the “global mutirão” text finds 69 inactive verbs, requiring no action, against 32 active verbs.
1/4
November 22, 2025 at 8:21 PM
COP30 TEXT ANALYSIS: One way to read dense COP text is to focus on the verbs. These are helpfully italicised – and for good reason.
MOSTLY INACTIVE: Carbon Brief analysis of the “global mutirão” text finds 69 inactive verbs, requiring no action, against 32 active verbs.
1/4
MOSTLY INACTIVE: Carbon Brief analysis of the “global mutirão” text finds 69 inactive verbs, requiring no action, against 32 active verbs.
1/4
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
A brave and powerful piece by Judge Wolf.
A brave and powerful piece by Judge Wolf.
Why I Am Resigning
A federal judge explains his reasoning for leaving the bench.
www.theatlantic.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:41 PM
"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
A brave and powerful piece by Judge Wolf.
A brave and powerful piece by Judge Wolf.
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is not a political tool for the President’s administration to reward organizations that support him while punishing organizations that he dislikes. The Trump Administration lacks the legal authority to take this action.
November 3, 2025 at 7:04 PM
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is not a political tool for the President’s administration to reward organizations that support him while punishing organizations that he dislikes. The Trump Administration lacks the legal authority to take this action.
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
The most under-appreciated (and under-funded and under-reported) driver of climate change is our food system.
Our food system emits ~1/3 of global emissions. But it only gets 3% of climate funding and 4% of media coverage.
Let’s focus more on food.
Here’s a start: go.ted.com/jonathanfoley24
Our food system emits ~1/3 of global emissions. But it only gets 3% of climate funding and 4% of media coverage.
Let’s focus more on food.
Here’s a start: go.ted.com/jonathanfoley24
The problem with food and climate — and how to fix it
Global food production — from meat to grains — accounts for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions, says sustainability scientist Jonathan Foley. He presents a portfolio of data-backed solutions to b...
go.ted.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The most under-appreciated (and under-funded and under-reported) driver of climate change is our food system.
Our food system emits ~1/3 of global emissions. But it only gets 3% of climate funding and 4% of media coverage.
Let’s focus more on food.
Here’s a start: go.ted.com/jonathanfoley24
Our food system emits ~1/3 of global emissions. But it only gets 3% of climate funding and 4% of media coverage.
Let’s focus more on food.
Here’s a start: go.ted.com/jonathanfoley24
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
We have reached the point where the *American Bar Association* cannot find attorneys willing to represent them in litigation against the Trump administration.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
October 26, 2025 at 8:16 PM
We have reached the point where the *American Bar Association* cannot find attorneys willing to represent them in litigation against the Trump administration.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
NEW: Judge William Young's ruling against Rubio and Noem is a lesson for all in the Trump era.
Young lays bare the unconstitutionality of the Trump administration's student deportation efforts — and issues a challenge to America.
Today, at Law Dork:
Young lays bare the unconstitutionality of the Trump administration's student deportation efforts — and issues a challenge to America.
Today, at Law Dork:
Judge William Young's ruling against Rubio and Noem is a lesson for all in the Trump era
Young lays bare the unconstitutionality of the Trump administration's student deportation efforts — and issues a challenge to America. Also: More court pushback.
www.lawdork.com
October 1, 2025 at 9:53 PM
NEW: Judge William Young's ruling against Rubio and Noem is a lesson for all in the Trump era.
Young lays bare the unconstitutionality of the Trump administration's student deportation efforts — and issues a challenge to America.
Today, at Law Dork:
Young lays bare the unconstitutionality of the Trump administration's student deportation efforts — and issues a challenge to America.
Today, at Law Dork:
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
Farewell to Jane Goodall 🌿 A pioneering scientist whose groundbreaking work with primates transformed how we understand ourselves. She showed how research and advocacy can unite, inspiring generations.
Jane Goodall, Eminent Primatologist Who Chronicled the Lives of Chimps, Dies at 91
Her discoveries in the 1960s about how chimpanzees behaved in the wild broke new ground and represented what was called “one of the Western world’s great scientific achievements.”
www.nytimes.com
October 1, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Farewell to Jane Goodall 🌿 A pioneering scientist whose groundbreaking work with primates transformed how we understand ourselves. She showed how research and advocacy can unite, inspiring generations.
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
Thank you to the career federal employees, who show up to work every day and improve people's lives across the country.
October 1, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Thank you to the career federal employees, who show up to work every day and improve people's lives across the country.
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
BREAKING: Judge William Young, a Reagan appointee, delivers the most scathing legal rebuke of the Trump era, ruling that Trump and his cabinet illegally targeted pro-Palestinian students for deportation to "strike fear" into First Amendment protesters. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
September 30, 2025 at 5:03 PM
BREAKING: Judge William Young, a Reagan appointee, delivers the most scathing legal rebuke of the Trump era, ruling that Trump and his cabinet illegally targeted pro-Palestinian students for deportation to "strike fear" into First Amendment protesters. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
Just truly superb coverage of @sundayofaction.bsky.social Sun Day in the NYTimes. Solar Power is People Power!
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/c...
Here Comes the Sun Day
www.nytimes.com
September 21, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Just truly superb coverage of @sundayofaction.bsky.social Sun Day in the NYTimes. Solar Power is People Power!
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/c...
Thrilled to welcome so many great teachers and scholars to VLGS this weekend for the 16th Annual Colloquium on Environmental Scholarship. It’s magical to be together as a community sharing ideas in a beautiful place, especially at such a challenging time for environmental law and policy.
September 18, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Thrilled to welcome so many great teachers and scholars to VLGS this weekend for the 16th Annual Colloquium on Environmental Scholarship. It’s magical to be together as a community sharing ideas in a beautiful place, especially at such a challenging time for environmental law and policy.
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
"In New Hampshire, approximately 2% of electricity was generated through solar power as of spring 2025 — far less than the other New England states’ average of about 15%." From Molly Rains #NHPolitics
New Hampshire has never been a trailblazer on solar, but clean energy proponents still see a path • New Hampshire Bulletin
New Hampshire has been slower than the rest of New England to lean into renewable electricity generation, including through solar power. And while some opportunities to change that will likely arise…
newhampshirebulletin.com
September 11, 2025 at 10:01 PM
"In New Hampshire, approximately 2% of electricity was generated through solar power as of spring 2025 — far less than the other New England states’ average of about 15%." From Molly Rains #NHPolitics
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
Hot off the press: We can provide for the first time a systematic attribution of recent #heatwaves to the emissions of #carbon_majors. Essential new #Nature article coordinated by @yannquilcaille.bsky.social at @ethz.ch, with numerous contributors @usyseth.bsky.social:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Hot off the press: We can provide for the first time a systematic attribution of recent #heatwaves to the emissions of #carbon_majors. Essential new #Nature article coordinated by @yannquilcaille.bsky.social at @ethz.ch, with numerous contributors @usyseth.bsky.social:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
What happened at SCOTUS today is alarming: The right-wing majority allowed the Trump admin, as part of its sweeping immigration raids, to racially profile Spanish-speaking people who look Latino at certain low-wage job sites in the Los Angeles area while litigation challenging the raids is ongoing.
SCOTUS conservatives OK Trump admin's racial profiling of Latinos in low-wage jobs
Five of the six Republican appointees to the Supreme Court wrote nothing Monday. But their actions, and Justice Kavanaugh's concurrence, paint an alarming picture.
www.lawdork.com
September 9, 2025 at 1:11 AM
What happened at SCOTUS today is alarming: The right-wing majority allowed the Trump admin, as part of its sweeping immigration raids, to racially profile Spanish-speaking people who look Latino at certain low-wage job sites in the Los Angeles area while litigation challenging the raids is ongoing.
This was terrific work by student attorneys for great clinic clients VNRC, American Whitewater, and Vermont Council of Trout Unlimited. Vermont waters and wildlife and the many who cherish them deserve the strong protections guaranteed by federal and state law.
Environmental Advocacy Clinic Contributes to Major Win for Water Quality with National Impact
By: Rubina Manjikian JD/MCEP’27 and Haleigh Smith JD/MCEP’27 The Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) Environmental Advocacy Clinic (EAC), together with
www.vermontlaw.edu
September 2, 2025 at 12:56 AM
This was terrific work by student attorneys for great clinic clients VNRC, American Whitewater, and Vermont Council of Trout Unlimited. Vermont waters and wildlife and the many who cherish them deserve the strong protections guaranteed by federal and state law.
Reposted by Christophe Courchesne
On one hand, reducing car use reduces urban pollution.
But on the other, everyone likes it and cities become more livable
But on the other, everyone likes it and cities become more livable
August 30, 2025 at 12:43 AM
On one hand, reducing car use reduces urban pollution.
But on the other, everyone likes it and cities become more livable
But on the other, everyone likes it and cities become more livable
First week of the term: Welcome new VLGS students! At the Environmental Advocacy Clinic, we are getting underway with an important new piece of litigation. Thanks to @standingtrees.bsky.social and co-counsel Jim Dumont for the chance to contribute to this important case.
Environmental Advocacy Clinic Joins Litigation Effort to Defend Vermont’s Wild Worcester Range and Enforce State’s Public Trust Obligations for State Lands
Lawsuit Alleges Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Has Violated the State Constitution and Discriminated Against Vermonters in its Management of State
www.vermontlaw.edu
August 29, 2025 at 9:29 PM
First week of the term: Welcome new VLGS students! At the Environmental Advocacy Clinic, we are getting underway with an important new piece of litigation. Thanks to @standingtrees.bsky.social and co-counsel Jim Dumont for the chance to contribute to this important case.