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The Sustainable Development Law and Policy Brief (SDLP) is a student-run publication at AUWCL. SDLP is affiliated with the Program on Environmental and Energy Law (PEEL) and collaborates with other associated student organizations.
Established in 1997 in collaboration with the Center on International Environmental Law. The publication has hundreds of subscribers worldwide. With the support of the faculty and dedicated students at American University Washington College of Law, SDLP publishes two issues per year, both online and in print. Each publication highlights articles and notes by practitioners as well as students. Through the novel legal arguments and distinguished authors, SDLP has become a well-known and respected publication throughout the environmental and sustainable law field.
Our mission is to serve as a valuable resource for practitioners, policy makers, and concerned citizens promoting sustainable development, environmental preservation, environmental justice, and biodiversity throughout the world. Because our publication focuses on reconciling the tensions found within our ecosystem, it spans a broad range of environmental issues such as sustainable development; trade; renewable energy; human rights; air, water, and noise regulation; climate change; land use, conservation, and property rights; resource use and regulation; and animal protection.
We are located in Washington, DC. Our annual symposium and events provide an opportunity for students, practicing lawyers, and academics to connect with the wider envrionmental law community. The Sustainable Development Law & Policy Brief publishes two major issues every academic year. We will consider any article that contains strong legal arguments relating to sustainable development, infrastructure, environmental law, energy law, or other sustainability-related content. We accept submissions on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Editorial Board, Volume 25
Summer 2024 to Spring 2025
Elizabeth Clinch
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Elizabeth is a 3L with a focus in energy and environmental law. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry and Economics from the University of Denver. Prior to law school Elizabeth served in the Peace Corps and later worked as an international program specialist at the Commercial Law Development Program in the U.S. Department of Commerce. She is interested in project finance and leveraging public and private resources to meet global challenges such as energy access, climate mitigation, and resiliency.
In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys skiing, hiking, and spending time with her family.
Amanda Scheichet
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Amanda is a 3L from Livingston, New Jersey. She earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies and Political Science with a minor in U.S. Public Policy from Tulane University in New Orleans. Amanda’s legal experience includes interning at the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency - Office of General Counsel (OGC) and Office of Enforcement & Assurance Compliance (OECA). Amanda is currently externing at DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Division for the semester. Amanda joined SDLP as a junior staffer in the Fall of her 1L year, and was previously a symposium editor. In addition to her work with the Brief, Amanda is a Dean’s Fellow for WCL’s Program on Environmental & Energy Law (PEEL).
In her free time, you can find Amanda exploring DC, baking sourdough bread, and taking pictures of her dog.
Ivey Herren
Executive Editor
Ivey is a 3L who was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated with a degree in Political Science from the University of Oregon (go ducks!) before coming to Washington, D.C. to attend law school. Ivey has been a Junior Staffer and a Senior Editor for the Brief before becoming the Executive Editor. Her legal experience includes internships with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), the Mount Law Firm, and most recently, the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Ivey is also a Dean’s Fellow for the Program on Environmental and Energy Law (PEEL).
In her free time, Ivey enjoys finding local wine and cheese shops, hiking through Rock Creek Park, and taking her dog, Fig, to the dog park.
Elizabeth Ross
Managing Editor
Elizabeth grew up in Western Pennsylvania where she spent lots of time exploring the local mountains, rivers, and forests. She received her B.A. (’22) from American University with a double major in Justice & Law and Psychology. During her time at WCL, Elizabeth interned at Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, American Rivers, and most recently at the Center for Biological Diversity. This fall, she will extern at the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance as an honors law clerk.
Currently, Elizabeth loves visiting friends and family, reading high fantasy novels, and listening to live music!
William Williams
Articles Editor
William is a 3L who was born and raised in Wilson, North Carolina. He graduated with a degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University (go Pack!). He most recently served as a research assistant for Professor Elizabeth Beske and is currently externing with the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in the chambers of the Honorable Jason Park. William also serves as an Articles Editor for the Administrative Law Review.
In his free time, William enjoys running, watching horror movies, and exploring the DC restaurant scene.
Charles Beauregard
Senior Features Editor
Charlie is a proud Michigander. Charlie received his B.A. from Colby College in Government and Environmental Studies. Before law school, Charlie served as a Field Organizer for the Biden campaign in Michigan and subsequently worked for the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (EIBC). As a Policy Associate at EIBC, Charlie represented client interests in utility and long-term state electric vehicle planning proceedings. He also served as the federal policy team lead, focusing on leveraging the Investment and Jobs Act in Michigan. In law school, Charlie has continued to pursue his long-term career interests in energy law through an internship at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and as a Summer Associate in the energy group at a global law firm. Charlie also serves as the Executive Editor of the Administrative Law Review and as Professor David Snyder’s research assistant. Outside of school, Charlie enjoys backpacking, spending time in Northern Michigan, and reading his favorite authors (Tana French, Louise Penny, and John Grisham).
Christine Cha
Associate Features Editor
Linnea Miller
Symposium Editor
Linnea was raised in southwest Florida and received her Bachelors degrees in Political Science and Business from the University of Florida, specializing in International Development and Humanitarian Assistance. Linnea’s interests include community development financial institutions (CDFIs), social entrepreneurship, and the legal ramifications of natural disasters. She currently works full-time as a Disaster Litigation and Arbitration paralegal for FEMA while attending AUWCL part-time. She is also a junior staffer for BLR, an international competitor with ADR, and a PEEL Dean's Fellow. Outside of work and law school, Linnea enjoys thrifting, going to farmers markets, and finding new restaurants with her husband.
Elliot Hiller
Senior Editor
Elliott was born & raised in Albany, NY and received his B.A. in English from Colorado College. As a rising 2L, Elliott will be a Senior Editor this year on SDLP, a Legal Rhetoric and Writing Dean's Fellow for Professor Roddy, and a Junior Staffer on WCL's Administrative Law Review. This past summer, Elliott interned in chambers with the Honorable Charles Ehrlich in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on a homicide docket. Elliott is predominantly interested in the energy sector, particularly focused on the use of renewable energy systems and promoting the energy transition. Outside of WCL, you can find Elliott in his kayak, on his mountain bike, or sliding around on a pair of skis!
Henry Howe
Senior Editor
Henry Howe is a Northern Virginia native, having grown up a proverbial stone's throw away from DC, and has lived there for most of his life, aside from brief stints elsewhere in Virginia for college. He graduated from The College of William & Mary with a B.A. in Government in 2021. Currently he is a 3L, and the main focus of his studies is environmental law (and animal law), although he has taken his fair share of other classes. While his legal experience is rather limited, he is in the Community Equity and Economic Development clinic this year. Nevertheless, he has kept himself busy, so much so that he lacks free time; when he does have free time, he enjoys making an infinitesimal dent in his long backlog of unread books, traveling, cooking, (very infrequent) birdwatching, (very) amateur photography, and improving his foreign language skills, among other things
Max Kobernick
Senior Editor
Max is a 2L at Washington College of Law and received his B.A. in Political Science and Global Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Max interned at the National Resources Defense Council his 1L summer, working on the litigation team on Clean Air Act, NEPA, and Safe Drinking Water Act cases. He will be externing at the EPA Environmental Appeals Board in the fall. Max’s interests are in environmental justice, equitable access to public transportation, and sustainable cities. During his free time, Max enjoys backpacking, bicycling, swimming, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.
Becca Yant
Senior Editor
Becca is from Southern California and received a B.A. in Biology from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. They are a 3L evening student at WCL who joined SDLP in the spring of their 1L year. Becca is interested in environmental and health law, and is passionate about general well-being. They work as a Dean’s Fellow for the Office of Student Affairs and recently interned at a disability rights non-profit. Becca likes to read, practice yoga, tend to their houseplants, and take naps in their free time.
Recent Issues
Read our Most Recent Issue Below!
Volume 24, Issue 2, Spring 2024
New Solutions to Evolving Problems: Reevaluating Effective Methods of Conservation and Environmental Protection in a Changing World
2 | Editors' Note
by Shade Streeter and Reagan Ferris
4 | Preserving Pastoralist Lifestyles in Response to Climate Change-Induced Droughts in Kenya: Improving Land Tenure Through Environmental Policies and Civil Rights Laws
by Hannah Ellis
14 | Among the Toxic Offenders: Exploring the Prosecution of Individuals for Environmental Crimes under the Toxic Substances Control Act
by Dr. Joshua Ozymy & Dr. Melissa Jarell Ozymy
20 | Mycelium and Sustainable Building: Proactive Solution to the No-Harm Rule
by Alexandra Curbelo
Volume 24, Issue 1, Fall 2023
Developing the Commons: How Methods used Around the World can Inform our Sustainable Use of Earth's Finite Resources
2 | Editors' Note
by Shade Streeter and Reagan Ferris
5 | Incentivizing Sustainability in American Enterprise: Lessons From Finnish Model
by Vasa T. Dunham12 | Natural Resources In the Arctic: The Equal Distribution of Uneven Resrouces
by Ganeswar Matcha and Sudarsanan Sivakumar
17 | U'wa Indigenous People vs. Columbia: Potential Applications of the Escazú Agreement
by Ariana Lippi
Volume 23, Issue 2, Spring 2023
The Law in Transition: How Real-World Impacts of Climate Change are Restructuring Legal Systems & Redefining Legal Norms
2 | Editors' Note
by Rachel Keylon & Meghen Sullivan
4 | The Future of Crypto-Asset Mining: The Inflation Reduction Act and the Need for Uniform Federal Regulations
by Liz Guinan
16 | Feature: The Great Climate Migration: A Critique of GLobal Legal Standards of Climate-Change Caused Harm
by Mariah Stephens
18 | Feature: UNCLOS, UNDRIP & Tartupaluk: The Grim Tale of Hans Isle and Graense
by Christopher Mark Macneill
22 | Prioritizing Regional Wildlife Conservation by Rejuvenating the Western Hemisphere Convention on Nature Protection
by Shade Streeter, David Hunter & William Snape
Volume 23, Issue 1, Fall 2022
Issues in Waste Management
2 | Editors' Note
by Rachel Keylon & Meghen Sullivan
4 | Ohio House Bills 168 and 110: Just Another Drop In the Bucket for Brownfield Redevelopmnet?
by Mia Petrucci
12 | Feature: It's Time to Trash Consumer Responsibility for Plastic: An Analysis of Extended Producer Responsibility Laws' Success in Maine
by Marina Mozak
14 | Toxic Chemicals: Prosecuting Individuals for Hazardous Wast Crimes Under the United States Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
by Dr. Joshua Ozymy & Dr. Melissa Jarrell Ozymy
Volume 22, Issue 2, Spring 2022
Exploring How Today's Development Affects Future Generations Around the Globe
2 | Editors' Note
by Juliette Jackson and Bailey Nickoloff
4 | Toward a Utah Intentionally Created Surplus Program
by Devin Stelter
22 | Making Room for the Past in the Future: Managing Urban Development with Cultural Heritage Preservation
by Kubra Babaturk
Volume 22, Issue 1, Fall 2021
Regulatory Schemes In Local, State, and Federal Governments
2 | Editors' Note
by Juliette Jackson and Bailey Nickoloff
4 | Rulemaking Doubletake: An Opportunity to Repair and Strengthen the National Environmental Policy Act
by Rachel Keylon
20 | Underserved Communities Trashed By Plastic: Slowing the Proliferation of Petroleum-based Products Through Stewardship Laws and Enhanced Back-end Regulatory Solutions
by Joan F. Chu
The American University Office of Sustainability was founded in 2009 to help meet the university's goal of "acting on our values of social responsibility, service [and] an active pursuit of sustainability."
The office develops and supports campus initiatives that promote sustainability within the campus community.
Tenley Campus
The Tenley Campus is LEED Gold certified.
LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is a green building certification program that is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. To achieve certification, building projects must meet prerequisites and earn points to achieve varying levels of certification ranging from certified to platinum.
The design of the Tenley Campus places a high priority on environmentally sustainable development principles. Key components include water and energy efficient systems, sustainable material selection, and interior environments that promote occupant health.
The Tenley Campus construction adheres to the University’s Green Building Policy, which supports the University’s goal of having a positive impact on the environment, as it relates to all university owned and operated facilities.
“Ideally, the LEED certification process is most effective when sustainable approaches are incorporated very early on in the design process as was the case at Tenley,” said Jamie Lee, AIA LEED BD+C, Principal at Smith Group JJR, the D.C.-based architecture and engineering firm responsible for the design. “Both the law school and the university were committed to creating a sustainable LEED certified building and had aspirations and goals that were incorporated into the project.”
Some of the green features in the Tenley Campus:- Buildings are located to maximize public transportation options & access
- Bicycle use is promoted through amenities like locker rooms and showers, as well as over 200 bike rack spaces
- Infrastructure is provided for Electric Vehicle charging stations
- Open space on the site is maintained and maximized
- Storm water is managed for quantity and quality using on-site features such as rain gardens
- Light colored roof material is specified to minimize urban heat-island effect
- Buildings will utilize nearly 50% less water than typical buildings of similar size through the use of high efficiency fixtures
- A unique hydronic heating and cooling system will reduce energy consumption by more than 20%
- Construction procedures will divert more than 90% of construction debris from landfills
- Regionally-sourced material will make up at least 20% of the building
- Certified sustainably-harvested wood will be used on more than 50% of all wood on the project
Receptacles for items that you may need to recycle infrequently such as clothes, batteries, ink cartridges, cell phones, plastic bags, and computers, monitors, and other e-waste can be found in several locations on AU's campus. Do your part to keep these easily recycled and often toxic items out of the landfill.
- In 2010, AU adopted a Zero Waste Policy mandating the creation of a team to develop a plan for reducing and diverting 100% of the university's waste stream.
- AU collects paper towel waste from all restrooms around campus separately. Student sustainability educators audited the campus waste stream and discovered that paper towels represent 13 percent of AU's waste.
- The university is reducing solid waste by replacing bottled water with inline water filters.
- In fall 2009, AU eliminated trays in the Terrace Dining Hall, reducing food waste by an estimated 32 percent.
- The university reuses and recycles surplus furniture by partnering with several area surplus and reuse centers.
- In 2009, the university recycled 43 percent of the solid waste generated on campus by presorting cans, glass, paper, cardboard, plastic bags, batteries, cell phone batteries, cell phones, and fluorescent lights.
- We collect and recycle vehicle waste including lubricants, antifreeze, oil filters, tires, and batteries.
- University-owned electronics equipment can be recycled by simply submitting a form to AU Surplus.
- Personal electronics waste can be recycled at our quarterly e-waste recycling drives.
- We collect kitchen grease from TDR for recycling.
Campus Affiliations
Below are some of the Law Societies that we collaborate with under the Program on Environmental and Energy Law (PEEL)! Many of their members are also SDLP staff!
The Environmental Law Society is a student organization dedicated to creating an awareness of current environmental matters and the legal issues surrounding them. Our mission is to encourage students and community members to support environmental initiatives. We accomplish this mission by keeping students and the community informed of important issues in environmental law and policy, promoting environmental scholarship, advocating for environmentally sound decision-making, and by providing opportunities to protect the natural environment and its irreplaceable creatures.
Because issues relating to Animal Law also relate to a broad spectrum of issues surrounding other legal fields, we are a group of Law Students who seek to show how Animal Law intersects with nearly every other law field.
The WCL Energy Law Society seeks to provide a forum for students, alumni, and professors to come together and promote discussion about developments in energy law and the global impact these developments have. The WCL Energy Law Society is both a professional and social network for friends and colleagues sharing an interest in energy.
The WCL Native American Law Students Association serves the beliefs and interests of Indigenous, Native American, and non-Native American Students, Faculty, and Staff of American University Washington College of Law. It seeks to provide an inclusive social and supportive community to foster development rooted in the practices and beliefs of Native American and Indigenous Peoples; Educate WCL administration and community on the needs of its Native American and Indigenous student population; and develop programming for the instruction of teachings and practices for interested Native Americans, Indigenous, and non-Native or non-Indigenous Allies.
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Contact Us
Have a question?
Get in touch here or email us at: sdlp.wcl@gmail.com
The Sustainable Development Law & Policy Brief was founded to provide a forum for those interested in promoting sustainable economic development, environmental conservation, environmental justice, and biodiversity throughout the world.
Contact Us
Email:
sdlp.wcl@gmail.com
Office:
4300 Nebraska Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016
Capital Building, Room CT03
