Mary Christina Wood to Speak on Environmental Law Nov. 5 at Western

Mary Christina Wood from the University of Oregon School of Law will discuss environmental law and climate change as part of the WWU Huxley College of the Environment Speaker Series at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5 in Communications Facility 120 on the Western Washington University campus.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

In the face of the global ecological crisis that climate change is accelerating, what can ordinary citizens do? In her Speaker Series talk titled, "Nature’s Trust: Environmental Law for an Ecological Age," environmental law expert Mary Christina Wood offers new approaches to global climate change policy. Based on fundamental principles of sovereignty, rooted in ancient law of both the indigenous and industrialized worlds, Wood argues for a revolutionary and controversial new approach to “atmospheric trust litigation” that would hold governments morally accountable to protect our natural resources on behalf of the beneficiaries—the citizens of today and tomorrow. Could Nature’s Trust laws be a road-map for citizens seeking to take action against further environmental degradation?

Mary Wood is the Philip H. Knight Professor of Law and faculty director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Oregon School of Law. She has taught law for more than 20 years, specializing in property law, environmental law, and federal Indian law.

The presentation will include a question-and-answer period. Anyone interested in the topic is encouraged to attend and participate.

The Huxley College Speaker Series, sponsored by Western’s Huxley College of the Environment, is intended to bring together environmentally-minded members of the WWU and Bellingham communities. Speakers address topics of contemporary environmental concern in the region and the world.

WWU’s Huxley College of the Environment is one of the oldest environmental colleges in the nation and a recognized leader in producing the next generation of environmental professionals and stewards. Huxley’s distinctive, interdisciplinary curriculum reflects a broad view of the physical, biological, social, and cultural world, and has earned international recognition for quality.

For more information, please contact WWU’s Huxley College of the Environment at (360) 650-2554.