Adaptive reuse is the process of modifying an existing building to serve new uses. This form of redevelopment presents an exciting opportunity to adapt existing properties to meet the current needs of the community. Adaptive reuse could promote sustainability in Denver by redeveloping empty office space as housing.

The Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) is a metric used to determine the economic value of one ton of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This metric is an important tool for estimating the broad economic impacts of each additional ton of GHG emissions that are released into the atmosphere.

Climate activists gained a major victory in the fight against climate change this year in the case Held v. Montana. This case was the first of its kind to reach trial in the US and could pave the way for future climate litigation. The case hinged on the right to a clean and healthful environment, which is protected as a fundamental right in Montana’s Constitution.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) recently conducted a hearing for an ongoing climate litigation case that may have significant impact around the world. The case was brought by six Portuguese youths against the 33 member states of the Council of Europe, and accuses the governments of failing to protect against the increasing impacts of climate change. Complainants assert that this failure to address human-caused climate change has violated their fundamental rights as guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights (“the Convention”). Respondents have challenged the admissibility of the case, as well as the Complainants’ status as victims of climate change.

The transition to renewable energy is vital in the global fight against climate change. Significant gains were made in the renewable energy sector in 2022, but more still needs to be done to avoid irreversible climate catastrophe.

PFAS are a class of dangerous ‘forever chemicals’ that pose a serious risk to public health around the world. Governments need to take swift action to restrict PFAS production in order to prevent further accumulation of these chemicals in our environment and protect public health.

On June 2, 2022, the Colorado General Assembly signed a new piece of legislation aimed at improving air quality and protecting residents’ health. The bill, entitled “Public Protections From Toxic Air Contaminants” (HB22-1244), updated the Colorado Air Pollution Prevention and Control Act by establishing the state’s first health-based ambient air quality standards. The purpose of this legislation is to “prioritize and protect the health and well-being of all Coloradans,” focusing particularly on sensitive and vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, and those living in disproportionately impacted communities. In order to achieve this goal, this bill sets three priorities: (1) identifying toxic air contaminants; (2) reporting emissions data; and (3) setting health-based standards and emission control regulations.

The Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) marks an important milestone in the fight against climate change. It outlines a multifaceted approach to tackling the ongoing climate crisis, as well as commits over $369 billion to supporting various climate initiatives. The wide variety of these initiatives is one of the strengths of the bill, however, the provision that includes tax credits for producers of clean energy will be particularly impactful.