Symposia
The Fordham Environmental Law Review (“ELR”) invites you to attend its annual Symposium on February 26th, 2026. This year’s symposium, “Environmental Law, Public Health, and the Climate Crisis: Protecting Communities in a Changing World,” will bring together a diverse group of prominent scholars and practitioners for a conversation on climate change and public health and how environmental law can and should respond to protect vulnerable communities. Panelists will address critical issues at the intersection of environmental protection, climate change, and health equity and consider how legal tools—from environmental justice frameworks to state Green Amendments—can promote healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable futures. Founded in 1989, the Fordham Environmental Law Review is an interdisciplinary publication that explores domestic and international environmental issues ranging from air and water regulation to environmental justice and social policy. The 2026 Symposium will be conducted in a hybrid format, allowing attendees to participate via Zoom or in person at our Lincoln Center campus in New York. For more information about the Fordham ELR, please visit our website: https://fordhamlawelr.org/.
2026 Symposium: Environmental Law, Public Health, and the Climate Crisis: Protecting Communities in a Changing World
About the Program
Thursday, February 26, 2026
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Check-In
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Program
In-Person and on Zoom
Fordham Law School
Costantino Room, Second Floor
150 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023
CLE credit will be available.
Panel Topics & Speakers
| Panel I: Environmental Equity: Health, Climate Change, & Justice Katherine Smith (J.D.): Senior Counsel, NYC Law Department, Environmental Division Jennifer Li (J.D., LL.M.): Director, O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University Law Center Sara Colangelo (J.D.): Associate Professor of Law, Director of the Environmental Law and Justice Clinic, Georgetown University Law Center Elizabeth Van Nostrand (J.D.): Associate Professor, Department of Health Services Administration and Policy, Temple University Barnett College of Public Health Heather J. Tanana (J.D., MPH): Assistant Professor of Law, University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Initiative Lead, Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities |
| Panel II: State Green Amendments – Tools to Advance Public Health? Maya K. van Rossum (J.D.): Founder, Green Amendments For The Generations. Delaware Riverkeeper & Leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network Ryan M. Seidemann (J.D., Ph.D, R.P.A.): General Counsel, The Water Institute. Adjunct Professor of Law, Southern University Law Center Michael B. Gerrard (J.D.): Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice, Founder and Faculty Director of Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School John C. Dernbach (J.D.): Emeritus Professor of Law, Founding Director, Environmental Law and Sustainability Center (2015-2023), Widener University Commonwealth Law School Jonathan Rosenbloom (J.D., LL.M.): Associate Dean for Online Education, Distinguished Professor of Law, Albany Law School |
