What’s Next for Environmental Law in 2026

What’s Next for Environmental Law in 2026

Author: Environmental Law Institute December 31, 2025 Duration: 47:33

As 2025 comes to a close, People, Places, Planet takes stock of a year of profound change in environmental law—and looks ahead to the legal and policy questions that will shape 2026. Host Sebastian Duque Rios draws on insights from ELI convenings with leading scholars, practitioners, scientists, and policymakers to unpack how courts, agencies, and governments are redefining environmental authority and accountability.

The episode covers key U.S. Supreme Court decisions and previews cases to watch in the upcoming term, explores sweeping changes to NEPA and administrative law, and examines the growing treatment of climate change as a legal rights issue in both U.S. and international courts. It also looks at how these high-level legal debates are playing out on the ground—from data centers and AI infrastructure to clean water, cooperative federalism, and the shifting balance of state and federal power.

  •  Supreme Court environmental law review and preview (1:47)
  •  NEPA after Seven County and CEQ rescission (14:57)
  • Climate change and rights in the courts (26:17)
  • The future of the endangerment finding (32:36)
  • On the ground: data centers, cooperative federalism, and WOTUS (36:42)

See ELI's resources for more information:

★ Support this podcast ★

Produced by the Environmental Law Institute, People Places Planet is a conversation grounded in the practical realities of environmental stewardship. This podcast moves beyond abstract theory to explore how laws, policies, and innovative governance models are actively applied. Each episode features discussions with practitioners, scientists, legal experts, and community leaders who are directly engaged in crafting and implementing solutions. You’ll hear nuanced analysis on the intersection of business, regulation, and education, focusing on tangible outcomes rather than just identifying problems. The dialogue consistently centers on how complex frameworks operate in the real world, affecting specific communities, ecosystems, and industries. Listening provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that drive environmental progress and the challenges that arise at the intersection of human activity and planetary health. It’s an essential resource for anyone curious about the foundational rules and creative strategies shaping our relationship with the environment, offering clarity on the legal and policy threads woven through every environmental issue. Tune in for thoughtful, expert-driven perspectives that connect the dots between policy texts and their impact on the ground.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

People Places Planet
Podcast Episodes
Farewell, Georgia Ray! A Special Behind-the-Scenes Episode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:00
Georgia Ray joined ELI as a Research Associate in August 2021 and has been the Host of People, Places, and Planet for the past year. At ELI, Georgia also worked on projects related to best practices for sustainable land-…
From Trash to Triumph: The Mount Growmore Initiative [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:13
In this week's episode of the People Places Planet Podcast, host Georgia Ray dives deep into an incredible transformation journey with her guests Debbie Sims, Suzi Ruhl, David Cash, and Bill Coleman. Together, they discu…
The Fight for Forests: Green Militarization in Latin America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:49
Environmental laws and the judiciary can play a role in preventing deforestation across Latin America. In this episode, host Georgia Ray speaks with Kristine Perry, a Staff Attorney at ELI, and Juan Corredor-Garcia autho…
Of Fish and Farms: Investigating Land-Based Aquaculture's Promises [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:19
Fish consumption is on the rise worldwide, and with it, fish farming. Land-based aquaculture and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) offer a lot of environmental promise, but do they live up to the hype? In this epis…