Ira Feldman | University of Waterloo, Canada (original) (raw)

Papers by Ira Feldman

Natural Resources & Environment , 2024

Where will everybody go to survive the inevitable climate disruption? This article considers how ... more Where will everybody go to survive the inevitable climate disruption? This article considers how U.S. constitutional law informs and influences potential governmental programs and policies affecting millions of citizens who will be displaced from their homes and livelihoods by climate change. The study of what is known as “managed retreat” and “receiving communities”—and, in the popular press, “climate havens”—is in its infancy.
Our inquiry is to be distinguished from issues that focus primarily on the government’s responsibility for climate “mitigation.” See, e.g., Juliana v. United States, 217 F. Supp. 3d 1224, 1250 (D. Or. 2016), rev’d for lack of standing, 947 F.3d 1159 (9th Cir. 2020), aff ’d, slip op. (9th Cir. May 2, 2024). Much less attention has been paid to the extent to which U.S. constitutional law shapes the “adaptation” side of climate change, including congressional and state authority, due process, equal protection, privileges and immunities, compensable takings, and federalism. We conclude that the U.S. Constitution is neither designed nor equipped to handle the oncoming climate displacement wave and wonder whether a “constitutional revolution” is warranted.

Data & Policy

Within the last decade, online sustainability knowledge-action platforms have proliferated. We su... more Within the last decade, online sustainability knowledge-action platforms have proliferated. We surveyed 198 sustainability-oriented sites and conducted a review of 41 knowledge-action platforms, which we define as digital tools that advance sustainability through organized activities and knowledge dissemination. We analyzed platform structure and functionality through a systematic coding process based on key issues identified in three bodies of literature: (a) the emergence of digital platforms, (b) the localization of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and (c) the importance of multi-level governance to sustainability action. While online collaborative tools offer an array of resources, our analysis indicates that they struggle to provide context-sensitivity and higher-level analysis of the trade-offs and synergies between sustainability actions. SDG localization adds another layer of complexity where multi-level governance, actor, and institutional priorities may generate t...

Irwin Professional Pub. eBooks, 1997

The ISO 14000 series of environmental management standards has captured the attention of business... more The ISO 14000 series of environmental management standards has captured the attention of business and governments around the world and will likely become a global passport to doing business for thousands of companies. "Implementing ISO 14000" is a practical, comprehensive, yet concise reference guide to the ISO 14000 series of standards, implementation, and registration. Each chapter, written by a leading authority in environmental management or compliance, offers an in-depth examination of the key elements of the ISO 14000 series. "Implementing ISO 14000" also provides: a broad introduction to the ISO 14000 series of standards and a history of their development; tips for the practical application of environmental performance evaluation; what to expect during the ISO 14000 registration process; and the role of ISO 14000 in government enforcement.

Environmental Quality Management, 1994

is specid coirnsel in the newly-created EWIRONMENAL LFADERSHIP: EPX's "BEYOSD COMPU'INCE'' PILOT ... more is specid coirnsel in the newly-created EWIRONMENAL LFADERSHIP: EPX's "BEYOSD COMPU'INCE'' PILOT PROGRAM implementation. States most strongly supported the emphasis on compliance screening. Environmental groups, to the extent comment was submitted, addressed the concern that the ELP might divert resources from the Agency's enforcement priorities. Several groups advocated deferring to the CERES principles. Specific Issues Respondents expressed a variety of opinions and suggestions on key issues including participation, corporate principles, compliance threshold, auditing and selfdisclosure, national goals, measures of success, and public accountability. he pilots will T explore ways to encourage facili ties to develop innovative audit and compliance programs. The date and location of any h meetings will be published in the Foderal Registrrat a future date. ADDRESSES Comments on this proposal should be mailed to: EPNOPPTS TIMB(TS793). Public Document Office, room G004, Northeast Mall, 401 M Street SW.. Washington, DC 20460. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Glass-Rimer, United States Emiranmew tal Protection Agency (1102). Pollutim Prevention Policy Staff, 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460, telephone: (202) 260-861 6. on the development of test projects in the earty spring of 1994. ;he O%ce of Compliance within OECA will be responvble for this process. Please call !dike Schiavo at (202) 260-2824 for more information. Also in response lo me comments. me Agemy has concluded mat it wII not issue its own guidelines for corporate environmental pnnciples. but rather work cooperabvely wth the many other organizations that have developed corporate and industry-wide codes of environmental conduct The Office of Pdlulon Prevention and Toaia will take responsibility for representing Me Agency in this area. and for ensuring the involvement of other €PA offices where appropriate. Please call David Kling at (202) 260-3557 for more information. EPA thanks all of those who have expressed an interest in the ELP concept [pg 4067) and looks forward lo making this program an exciting and elfective approach to pollution prevention and compliance.

Environmental Quality Management, 2003

Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg was "sustainable development begins at home." The ... more Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg was "sustainable development begins at home." The Department used that mantra to underscore its core message: that sustainable development requires effective and supportive national governance and adherence to the rule of law. This is surely true, and it applies to all countries, including the United States. As a result, it provides a key to understanding what the WSSD should mean for the United States in years to come.

Environmental Quality Management, Mar 1, 2012

Over the past decade or so, the face of corporate environmental management has changed with the a... more Over the past decade or so, the face of corporate environmental management has changed with the advent of systems thinking and the implementation of environmental management systems (EMSs). Beginning with the promulgation of the ISO 14001 standard in 1996, EMSs have become an increasingly accepted framework for managing the environmental aspects of an organization's activities, products, and services. Indeed, both the term "environmental aspects" and the phrase "activities, products, and services" were popularized through the development of the ISO 14001 standard. The discussion that follows will emphasize how ecosystem services can be infused into corporate environmental management by rethinking an organization's environmental aspects across the range of its activities, products, and services.

... 1 / 1 Seleccione referencia / Select reference Signatura: 3475 CD-E. Autor: Tibor, Tom; Feldm... more ... 1 / 1 Seleccione referencia / Select reference Signatura: 3475 CD-E. Autor: Tibor, Tom; Feldman, Ira. Título: ISO 14000: um guia para as novas normas de gestao ambiental. P.imprenta: Futura. Sao Paulo. BR. 1996. 302 p.. Descriptores ...

In response to a growing need to move the world towards sustainable development and sustainable p... more In response to a growing need to move the world towards sustainable development and sustainable practices within government and industry, a whole new profession is emerging. This research study was conducted to bring clarity, cohesion and credibility to this new area. The study, conducted over a 9 month period, sought to answer the question, “What should a sustainability professional know how to do? ” A review of related studies and a backward chaining approach to identifying starter skill sets led to a series of interviews with invited experts in the field. This process culminated in a survey tool that was administered to nearly 400 professionals working in the field. This report summarizes the competencies identified as being most critical to the successful performance of professionals working in the field of

In an effort to share local knowledge and best practices, online sustainability knowledge-action ... more In an effort to share local knowledge and best practices, online sustainability knowledge-action platforms of various types have proliferated. We conducted a review of 42 online sustainability knowledge-action platforms, which we define as digital tools that seek to manage and organize (local) knowledge and activities to advance a sustainability agenda. This interdisciplinary paper analyzes the structure and functionality of existing sustainability platforms through a systematic coding process. The coding is based on a review of the key issues highlighted in three bodies of literature: i) localization of the SDGs, ii) digital platforms and iii) multi-level governance of sustainability transitions. Our analysis indicates that numerous online collaborative tools, while offering an array of resources, struggle to provide context-sensitivity and higher-level analysis of the trade-offs and synergies between different sustainability actions. Context sensitivity and systemic thinking are e...

of Conference Presentation Despite the importance of global accords such as the Paris Agreement a... more of Conference Presentation Despite the importance of global accords such as the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the most productive solutions to the climate crisis are often occurring at the local level. The SDGs seek to capture the multi-dimensional aspects of sustainable development with associated global indicators. Reporting of progress towards these goals is still mainly at a national scale, despite efforts to 'localise' reporting. Governments can develop their own indicators to track progress, while localised SDG indicators still lag behind. In the UK, for instance, monitoring and reporting of SDGs into local systems has been low and robust indicators that decouple a range of sustainability outputs into different frameworks is urgently required. There are also many social and spatial implications of sustainability transitions at different scales and contexts that should be debated and embedded into integrated sustainability data management...

Environmental Impact Assessment, 2011

International Law News, 2015

Sustainable development has become increasingly important to lawyers and their clients. This arti... more Sustainable development has become increasingly important to lawyers and their clients. This article surveys the American Bar Association’s many sustainable development activities. These include House of Delegates resolutions dating back to 1991, activities of ABA’s Section of International Law and Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, and activities of ABA’s Task force on Sustainability. It also surveys likely future developments, explaining that, looking ahead, lawyers will have no choice but to become involved in an even broader range of sustainability issues.

Sustainable development has its origins in the conservation and environmental movements in the Un... more Sustainable development has its origins in the conservation and environmental movements in the United States and other countries, and in the laws that were adopted because of those movements. Lawyers in the public and private sectors drafted these laws and worked with clients to implement them. Sustainable development is becoming increasingly important to lawyers and their clients in a world with a growing economy and population in some places, widespread poverty in others, and growing environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. And the ABA, including the Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER), is keeping step.

Agenda for a Sustainable America, Jan 1, 2009

Sustainable Dev. L. & Pol'y, Jan 1, 2007

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REPORTER …, Jan 1, 2007

Editors' Summary: Law and policy have traditionally lagged behind economics and ecology as fields... more Editors' Summary: Law and policy have traditionally lagged behind economics and ecology as fields addressing the value and protection of ecosystem services. Environmental lawyers and policymakers need to work to close the gap in ecologist-and economist-dominated discourse on these vital services. In this Article, Ira R. Feldman and Richard J. Blaustein examine the potential intersections of ecosystem services and law and policy. They discuss how economic considerations like valuation, scale, and uncertainty might figure in the policy opportunities for ecosystem services. And they address how such considerations as taxation and payment arrangements, common-law rights, "constitutive" constitutional rights, and established international legal norms might work to protect ecosystem services.