People Places Planet

Fifty-six years ago, the first Earth Day helped spark a generation of landmark environmental legislation — and the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) was born from that same moment. On this Earth Day 2026, host Sebastian Duque Rios sits down with ELI President Jordan Diamond and Senior Attorney Jay Austin to trace the arc of environmental law from that founding era to the compounding crises of today. Together, they reflect on how statutes like NEPA and the Clean Air Act were designed with more foresight than we often credit them for, why adaptive management is baked into the DNA of environmental law, and how ELI is responding to an era of rapid institutional change — from regulatory rollbacks and executive action to the governance challenges posed by emerging industries like deep sea mining, geothermal energy, and data centers. They also dig into ELI's new collaboration with the Federation of American Scientists' (FAS) Center for Regulatory Ingenuity and their joint white paper laying out a framework for rebuilding and reimagining environmental governance fit for the 21st century. This episode is a candid, long-view conversation about what it takes to protect people, places, and the planet. For more information on other emerging topics in environmental law, see our recent episode, "What's Next for Environmental Law in 2026." ★ Support this podcast ★

Environmental and land defenders in Brazil face some of the highest rates of violence in the world, yet most attacks are never investigated, and fewer still result in prosecution. In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios speaks with Kristine Perry, staff attorney at ELI, and Amael Notini, ELI's in-country partner in Brazil and legislative consultant to the Brazilian Federal Senate, about the systemic forces driving violence against defenders and what accountability could look like. Together, they explore how Brazil's legacy of land inequality, weak rural state capacity, and a deeply entrenched culture of impunity have put Indigenous and Quilombola communities, small-scale farmers, and civil society actors at risk. The conversation covers the structural roots of land conflict, the ongoing contested ratification of the Escazú Agreement, the temporal framework threatening indigenous land rights, and what — if anything — emerged from COP 30 in Belém for defender protection. The episode concludes with a first look at what the team is finding as they build a first-of-its-kind database tracking investigations and prosecutions of lethal attacks against defenders across Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, and why that data matters. This episode is part of ELI's ongoing series on environmental defenders across Latin America. If you've missed our previous episodes, check out our introductory episode on environmental defenders and ELI's database ("Environmental Defenders: On the Frontlines of Conservation") and our Spanish-language episode on the Colombian context ("Defensores ambientales: hacia la rendición de cuentas en Colombia"). For more information on the project, consult ELI's Platform to Protect Environmental Defenders. ★ Support this podcast ★

Ahead of our eighth season, here's a preview of what's to come in People, Places, Planet, a bi-weekly podcast from the Environmental Law Institute. From climate change and biodiversity loss to pollution and public health, environmental law is at the center of the biggest challenges of our time. "How do we make the law work for people, places, and the planet?" This podcast brings you in-depth conversations with experts with leading experts, breaking down the foundations of environmental law and diving into the cutting-edge issues reshaping our world. Whether you're an environmental professional or someone who cares about the future of our communities and ecosystems, this podcast is for you. New episodes drop every other week. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation. Brought to you by the Environmental Law Institute - support the show at www.eli.org/donate. ★ Support this podcast ★

Can states hold pesticide companies accountable — or does federal law preempt? In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios sits down with Patti Goldman, Senior Attorney at Earthjustice, and Cecilia Diedrich, Staff Attorney at ELI, to unpack one of the most consequential environmental law cases of the Supreme Court's current session: Monsanto v. Darnell. At its core, this case asks whether federal pesticide law — the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) — preempts state-based failure-to-warn claims, potentially shielding pesticide manufacturers like Monsanto from liability for harms caused by products like Roundup (glyphosate). With oral arguments scheduled for April 27, 2026, the stakes couldn't be higher — not just for pesticide litigation, but for the future of toxics accountability across the board. We break down the science behind pesticide risks, the role of tort litigation in driving corporate accountability and regulatory reform, and why the Court's ruling could have far-reaching implications for PFAS litigation, microplastics liability, and chemical safety regulation more broadly. We also explore how recent Supreme Court decisions, including Loper Bright, are reshaping the landscape of federal agency deference and what that means for environmental and public health protections. If you're interested in learning about toxics litigation more broadly, ELI’s Toxics Litigation Project recently published a landscape analysis of toxics litigation and how scientific advancement and uncertainty, state and federal law, and judicial doctrine intersect in the ongoing effort to address the risks and consequences of toxic exposures in the United States and abroad titled, "Current Trends in Toxics Litigation." Additionally, for more information on FIFRA, check out our FIFRA, Explained episode. Monsanto v. Durnell ★ Support this podcast ★

What does a truly just energy transition look like — and who gets to define it? In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios sits down with Nadia Ahmad (Barry University School of Law) and Danielle Stokes (University of Richmond School of Law), collaborators on the Just Energy Transitions and Place (JET Place) project, a multi-institutional research initiative examining how place, land use law, and community governance shape who bears the burdens and who captures the benefits of America's shift to clean energy. Drawing on fieldwork across Florida, Louisiana, Kansas, and Pennsylvania, they make the case that decarbonization without redistribution isn't a just transition at all. From federalism and zoning conflicts to power purchase agreements, IRA rollbacks, and the structural barriers facing marginalized communities, this conversation surfaces the deeply human stakes behind every permitting decision and planning process — and explores what it looks like when communities successfully reclaim agency in the energy future being built around them. The conversation also zeroes in on Florida as a potentially cautionary case: a state with extraordinary solar potential but a regulatory environment defined by vertically integrated utilities, restricted third-party PPAs, and legislation that threatens to ban net zero targets at every level of government. ★ Support this podcast ★

What does equity look like in ocean governance? In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios speaks with Yoshitaka Ota of Ocean Nexus and Randall Abate, ELI Visiting Scholar, about the emerging concept of ocean equity—and why centering social justice is essential to the future of marine conservation and ocean law. From marine protected areas and small-scale fisheries to deep sea mining, marine geoengineering, and the rights of nature movement, the conversation explores how traditional environmental governance frameworks have often failed to address systemic marginalization in coastal and Indigenous communities. Drawing on anti-subordination theory, environmental justice, and human rights law, the guests explain how ocean equity moves beyond consultation toward meaningful power-sharing—including rethinking free, prior, and informed consent, stewardship-based resource management, and the intersection of human rights and marine conservation. For environmental lawyers, policymakers, and ocean governance professionals, this episode offers a forward-looking framework for aligning conservation, climate action, and justice. ★ Support this podcast ★

Is environmental law entering a new era—one defined not just by regulation and litigation, but also by implementation, incentives, and private-public partnerships? In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios is joined by Roger Martella (Chief Corporate Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer at GE Vernova), Mike Vandenbergh (Professor of Law, Vanderbilt University), and Linda Breggin (Senior Attorney at the Environmental Law Institute) to examine how climate and environmental governance is evolving amid political gridlock and regulatory uncertainty. Building on Martella’s 2024 law review article, the panel traces three eras of environmental law and explores the growing role of private environmental governance—driven by corporate investment, supply chains, investor pressure, and accountability to employees and customers. They discuss the risks and realities of greenwashing, what this shift means for environmental professionals, and how large-scale capital deployment is shaping the energy transition and climate action today. Join us for a forward-looking conversation for environmental professionals navigating the future of environmental law and policy. 05:04 – A new era of environmental law? 11:24 – From government-led action to private environmental governance 17:43 – What this means for environmental practitioners and students 21:06 – Private action in energy and the global climate strategy 33:06 – Motivating private sector leadership 36:26 – Supply chains as governance tools ★ Support this podcast ★

As artificial intelligence drives unprecedented growth in electricity demand, data centers are rapidly becoming some of the largest—and most consequential—loads on the U.S. power grid. Utilities that haven’t seen meaningful load growth in decades now face mounting interconnection backlogs, rising costs, and growing concerns about reliability, emissions, and equity. In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios is joined by Dalia Patino-Echeverri of Duke University and Aroon Vijaykar of Emerald AI to explore whether load flexibility offers a way forward. They examine how data centers and AI stress today’s grid, how modest and carefully designed curtailment could unlock significant new capacity without overbuilding infrastructure, and what emerging technologies and policies—from flexible interconnection to software-driven demand response—could mean for electricity affordability, grid reliability, and the future of AI development in the United States. Learn more by reading about Emerald AI's pilot in Phoenix and Duke's report on load growth and flexibility, Rethinking Load Growth: Assessing the Potential for Integration of Large Flexible Loads in US Power Systems. ★ Support this podcast ★

From the food we eat to the parks, farms, and neighborhoods around us, pesticide policy quietly shapes everyday life in the United States. In this installment of our Explained series on the nation’s foundational environmental laws, we turn to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, better known as FIFRA. Host Sebastian Rios is joined by Dr. Jennifer Sass of the Natural Resources Defense Council and Keith Matthews of Matthews Law LLC to unpack how pesticides are regulated in the United States, why FIFRA was created, and how it has evolved from a consumer protection statute into a central health and environmental safeguard. Together, they walk through how EPA evaluates pesticide risks and benefits, what “unreasonable adverse effects” really means in practice, and how FIFRA interacts with food safety law and state authority. The conversation also explores the role of labels and enforcement, the promise and limits of safer alternatives like biopesticides, and the pressures facing pesticide regulation today—from staffing shortages to faster approval timelines. Whether you work in environmental law or are just trying to understand how pesticides are regulated, this episode offers a clear understanding of how FIFRA affects what ends up on our food, in our environment, and in our bodies. ★ Support this podcast ★

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. Seven County See ELI's resources for more information: Annual Supreme Court Review & Preview (2025)The Future of NEPA Review: Unpacking the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition DecisionHeld v. Montana: A 2025 UpdateUnpacking the ICJ's Recent Opinion on Climate ChangeScientific Support for the Endangerment FindingNational Environmental Impacts of Data Center ProliferationData Centers and Water UsageCelebrating Collaboration: ECOS and the Future of State-Level Environmental Policy ★ Support this podcast ★

This is a special edition episode in Spanish with our Colombian partner on ELI's Environmental Defenders Database project. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our Vibrant Environment blog for an English summary of the episode, or listen to our last episode in February on this topic, "Environmental Defenders: On the Front Lines of Conservation". Los defensores ambientales desempeñan un papel fundamental en la protección de los ecosistemas del mundo, pero cada año cientos de defensores son amenazados, detenidos, y asesinados. Esta realidad destaca la necesidad urgente de contar con mayores garantías, datos confiables y respuestas institucionales coordinadas. En este episodio, el anfitrión de People, Places, Planet, Sebastian Duque Ríos conversa con Kristine Perry (Environmental Law Institute) y Luis Felipe Guzmán Jiménez (Universidad Externado de Colombia), quienes comparten su conocimiento sobre los riesgos que enfrentan los defensores ambientales en Colombia y las iniciativas que buscan fortalecer su protección. Juntos analizan quiénes son los defensores ambientales en el contexto colombiano y las rutas que el país podría seguir para garantizar justicia a las víctimas de estos ataques. También abordan el potencial de acuerdos regionales como el Acuerdo de Escazú para avanzar en su protección. Finalmente, el episodio destaca el trabajo continuo de ELI para desarrollar una base de datos que registre investigaciones y procesos judiciales relacionados con ataques letales contra defensores ambientales. Para más información, consulte la Plataforma para Proteger a los Defensores Ambientales de ELI. ★ Support this podcast ★

Environmental justice continues to evolve as states respond to shifting federal priorities and community needs. New Jersey has emerged as a leader, integrating equity considerations into core environmental programs, supported by its landmark 2020 EJ law and a long-standing emphasis on strong environmental protections. In this episode, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette joins Beveridge & Diamond’s Hilary Jacobs and Justin Smith to discuss how the state is operationalizing EJ, measuring progress, and adapting to the major changes in federal policy and funding with the new Administration. Commissioner LaTourette outlines how New Jersey incorporates environmental justice into decision-making, the practical work of translating EJ principles into concrete, data-driven actions, and the challenges of aligning state and federal roles. The conversation also explores support for community-based organizations, funding constraints, and how businesses can navigate evolving EJ frameworks. This episode is part of the Groundtruth series created in partnership with Beveridge & Diamond, one of the nation’s leading environmental law and litigation firms. ★ Support this podcast ★

At a time when species across the country face mounting pressures, the Endangered Species Act remains one of the most powerful—and contested—tools we have to protect them. In this installment of our “Explained” series, host Sebastian Duque Rios is joined by three experts whose careers span law, policy, and conservation science: Patrick Parenteau (Vermont Law & Graduate School), Jake Li (Defenders of Wildlife), and David Wilcove (Princeton University). Together, they break down how the ESA works, why it was created, and the real-world threats species face today. The conversation explores key provisions of the Act—from listing decisions and critical habitat designations to Section 7 consultations, recovery planning, and the role of private landowners. The guests also discuss how funding shortfalls, political pressures, and recent proposals could reshape endangered species protection in the years ahead. Whether you’re new to the ESA or looking for a richer understanding of its legal, scientific, and practical dimensions, this episode offers a clear and candid look at the challenges and opportunities facing one of the nation’s cornerstone conservation laws. ★ Support this podcast ★

As climate change reshapes our oceans, fish populations are shifting across borders and into new territories, creating ripple effects for food security, livelihoods, and international relations. These changes are intensifying pressure on governments and coastal communities—and, in some cases, fueling tension and conflict at sea. In this episode of People Places Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios speaks with Johan Bergenas, Senior Vice President for Oceans at the World Wildlife Fund-US, and Sofia O’Connor, Director of the Environmental Law Institute’s Ocean Program, about the complex links between marine conservation, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and international security. Together, they explore how climate-driven migration of fish stocks can trigger disputes between nations, how data and transparency tools like WWF’s Oceans Futures platform can help policymakers anticipate and prevent those conflicts, and how legal frameworks can promote cooperation rather than conflict on the high seas. See WWF's recent report, The Geopolitics of the Ocean, as well as their Oceans Futures platform for more information. ★ Support this podcast ★

As the first U.S city to implement a congestion pricing program, New York City has begun charging vehicles entering high-traffic areas of Manhattan a toll. With this initiative, NYC is testing what could be a consequential urban policy for transportation and climate at the municipal level. Ten months into the program, what have we learned? In this episode of People Places Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios speaks about congestion pricing with Robert Puentes, Vice President and Director of Brookings Metro; Rachel Weinberger, Vice President for Research Strategy and the Peter W. Herman Chair for Transportation at the Regional Plan Association; and Christine Billy, Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law at NYU and Executive Director of the Guarini Center. Together, they unpack NYC's congestion pricing program: why it was pursued, how it works, what early data suggests about its impacts, and the waves of legal challenges that the program has faced. In discussing how this innovative policy aims to rethink urban mobility, the conversation delves into how congestion pricing connects to broader environmental and public health goals, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and how it can present a model for other cities looking to fund and improve public transit. ★ Support this podcast ★

What does it mean to “indigenize” international law—and why does it matter for the environment? In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios speaks with legal scholars Jonathan Liljeblad, Kristen Carpenter, and Margaret Palaghicon Von Rotz about how Indigenous peoples are reshaping international legal thought. Together, they explore the concept of Indigenous legal orders—living systems of law that exist alongside and often in tension with state-based international law—and their growing influence in environmental governance. From the Ifugao people’s stewardship of the Philippines’ rice terraces to the Yurok Tribe’s river restoration and land back efforts in California, the conversation highlights how Indigenous nations are asserting legal authority across state borders, revitalizing relationships to land and water, and challenging colonial legacies in our legal systems. This episode offers a powerful look at what international law could become when Indigenous legal systems are recognized as active, evolving sources of law shaping the planet’s future. ★ Support this podcast ★

What is the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), and how has it shaped the way America manages its forests? In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios talks with forest law experts Susan Jane Brown, attorney with Silvix Resources and adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark Law School, and Martin Nie, Director of the Bolle Center for People and Forests at the University of Montana. Together, they unpack NFMA’s history, purpose, and lasting impact. From the clear-cutting controversies that spurred its creation to its unique role in regulating the federal government, NFMA has reshaped forest management through long-term planning, public participation, and enforceable standards—and it continues to guide how the Forest Service balances conservation, timber production, and recreation across millions of acres. Whether you’re new to environmental law or curious about how federal forests are governed, this episode offers a clear, engaging look at one of the cornerstone statutes of U.S. forest policy. ★ Support this podcast ★

Since 1989, the National Wetlands Awards have honored leaders who protect, restore, and steward America’s wetlands. In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios sits down with the 2025 awardees: Simone Maloz, campaign director of Restore the Mississippi River Delta (00:59); Mike Rolband, Director of Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (17:16); and Wyatt Penfold, a fourth-generation farmer from Idaho’s Teton Valley (32:24). Together, they share stories of coastal restoration in Louisiana, advances in wetland regulation and permitting in Virginia, and collaborative water management in Idaho. Their work highlights how wetlands sustain culture, protect communities, and provide ecological resilience—and why ensuring their survival requires broad commitment and sustained care across sectors and communities. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this special episode of People Places Planet, host Sebastian Duque Rios speaks with Ben Grumbles, president of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), and state environmental leaders James Kenney (New Mexico Environment Department), Chris Wells (Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality), and Leah Feldon (Oregon Department of Environmental Quality). The conversation marks the recognition of ECOS and Ben as the recipients of the Environmental Law Institute’s 2025 Environmental Achievement Award, honoring their commitment to bipartisan collaboration and science-based environmental governance. Together, they explore how states are leading the way on today’s most pressing challenges—from ensuring safe drinking water and cleaning up Superfund sites to advancing policy on PFAS and wildfire impacts. The discussion examines what's at stake when federal funding for state environmental programs falls short, why strong federal-state partnerships are essential for local economies, the risks of underfunding science at EPA, and how states are working to balance efficiency with integrity when it comes to permitting. The episode celebrates ECOS' leadership in strengthening cooperative federalism, fostering innovative solutions, and providing stability across administrations, while also offering insights into the future of environmental protection nationwide. ★ Support this podcast ★

Plastic packaging is everywhere—from grocery store shelves to e-commerce deliveries—and it’s one of the largest contributors to global plastic waste. In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Dara Albrecht is joined by Caroline Deloach (Atlantic Packaging), Daniel Zlatnik (CalRecycle), and Dacie Meng (Ellen MacArthur Foundation). Together, they unpack the complexities of the packaging market, the developments reshaping it, and the promise of a circular economy. The conversation explores the environmental, social, and health impacts of the way packaging is produced, used, and disposed of, the role of extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws in shifting costs and incentives upstream, and innovations—from AI-powered recycling to closed-loop reuse systems. The discussion also takes a deep dive into California's landmark SB 54, examining how its ambitious goals could influence policy nationwide. With perspectives spanning policy, law, and industry, the episode offers an in-depth look at how international treaties, state-level regulations, and private-sector action are converging to address the plastic waste crisis and make packaging more sustainable. This episode was recorded on June 20, 2025, prior to the start of INC-5.2, which is currently underway. The discussion may not reflect the most recent developments. For up-to-date information, please visit UNEP's website. ★ Support this podcast ★