Governance, Environmental Law & Decision-making

Issues of law, policy and governance are a key focus of national and international environmental research at UArizona. Faculty work on diverse topics, such as the intersections of Native American studies and environmental policy.

Our research

Attempts to protect Arizona's groundwater and rivers meet legislative resistance

The Arizona Legislature has taken up a range of water-related measures this year, but some bills that would strengthen the state’s water rules to protect declining groundwater and desert streams have run into opposition and have failed to move forward.

Tribal Coal Fields Will Test Biden’s Environmental Justice Goals

A massive coal plant, demolished in December, was a linchpin of the Navajo and Hopi economies for nearly 50 years.

Scientists applaud President Biden’s White House science team and commitment to science

President Joe Biden’s White House science team faces cascading crises as it takes command amid COVID-19, escalating climate change and crippling public doubts about science. But scientists across the country are confident the new administration is up to the challenge, especially under the leadership of science adviser Eric Lander, the pioneer who helped map the human genome.

In a last-minute rule change, the Trump admin rolls back water-saving standards for showerheads

The Trump administration is rolling back a regulation that requires showerheads to conserve water
 

A Q&A with Jonathan Crisman

Jonathan Crisman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona, shares his research focus, challenges, and impact in a Q&A for the NCSE Conference 2021.

Daniel Casanova standing in front of a canyon

Daniel Casanova: Planning for a Better Future

Sophomore Daniel Casanova, talks about how is outside activism and his UArizona education are preparing him for a future of combatting the climate crisis.

Zoom screen share from Native Know-How webinar

Recap of the Native Know-How Workshop

On September 23, 2020, the UArizona Native Nations Institute (NNI) led the Native Know-How workshop, sponsored by the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice (Haury Program). The webinar addressed UArizona leaders, scholars, and students, and the presenters provided attendees with tools and knowledge to understand cultural and governmental issues when working with Native Americans and tribal entities.

Science Is Collateral Damage Across the Trump Administration

The White House last week ordered hospitals to stop sending coronavirus-related data to a publicly available database at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prompting confusion and concern among public health professionals. The administration simultaneously announced plans to set up a new system that officials say will also be open and searchable and help agencies more nimbly direct resources where they’re most needed. Yet scientists detected in the chaos evidence of a more worrisome pattern.

 

Understanding and Fighting the Western Forest Firestorm

A University of Arizona fire ecology expert explains why each new wildfire season has been worse than the last — and what that might mean for the future.