Two-day conference at Syracuse University’s College of Law to address the fundamental issues in the

Two-day conference at Syracuse University’s College of Law to address the fundamental issues in the October 09, 2003Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

Changes to the New Source Review program, delays in the vote to confirmthe next head of the Environmental Protection Authority and accusationsof administration-led efforts to undermine hard-won environmentalprotections make a conference to be held at Syracuse University’sCollege of Law this week particularly relevant. “The Economic Dynamicsof Environmental Law and Static Efficiency,” scheduled for October 10and 11, will address issues fundamental to the future direction ofenvironmental policy.

The conference, cosponsored by the New York State Center of Excellence in Environmental Systems, will feature national and international leaders in areasincluding environmental law; consumer behavior; constitutional law;climatic change; and the long-term effects of acid rain. A full conference schedule is available at http://www.law.syr.edu/environmentalConference.asp.

David M. Driesen, associate professor at the College of Law and aformer senior project attorney with the National Resources DefenseCouncil, will lead the conference in its examination of theories such ascost-benefit analysis, and economic dynamics while discussing thelong-term environmental outcomes of related policies. Other SU faculty members participating include L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science faculty members Charles Driscoll and H. Ezzat Khalifa; Maxwell School faculty members Peter Wilcoxen, David Popp, Bruce Dayton, Allan Mazur and Rosemary O’Leary; and College of Arts and Sciences faculty members Mark Ritchie and Geoffrey Seltzer.

Sessions for the two-day conference include “Does Emissions TradingEncourage Innovation? Does It Matter?” and “Cost-Benefit Analysis: AnAppropriate Basis for Climate Change Policy?” The conference will alsolook at what options exist for measuring the benefits of environmentalregulations and compare the importance of quantitative factors anddynamic features, such as pollutant persistence and trends over time.

The cost is $75 for general registration and $10 for nonprofit organizations. The registration fee is waived for SU and ESF faculty, staff and students.

Call Chris Ramsdell at 443-9542 for more information.