Whistleblowers and Citizen-Driven Environmental Enforcement
Date
26 February 2019
Overview
INECE's first Discussion Series of 2019, presented in partnership with the National Whistleblower Center, examines how whistleblower laws, emerging technologies, and citizen engagement are transforming the landscape of environmental enforcement today. The series aims to build capacity among government agencies, non-profit organizations and individuals about whistleblower considerations. Based on insights from the NWC, U.S. Department of Justice, and other stakeholders, the series will also examine how these stakeholders may harness the power of new technologies and existing legal frameworks to support environmental defenders and encourage environmental whistleblowing.
Schedule and Topics
1. Using Whistleblower Laws to Promote Environmental Enforcement
Tuesday, February 26, 10:00 am – 11:30 am EDT
Speakers: Stephen Kohn, Co-Founder and Chair, National Whistleblower Center Board; Carl Bruch, Senior Adviser, INECE Secretariat, Director of International Programs, ELI
Description: This presentation introduces whistleblower provisions in U.S laws and discuss their transnational application, particularly as they pertain to environmental whistleblowing. There will be an overview of most important laws such as Lacey Act and False Claims Act.
2. Citizen Enforcement in the Forestry Sector
Thursday, March 21, 10:00 am - 11:30 am EDT
Panelists: Sandra Nichols Thiam, Senior Attorney, Environmental Law Institute (Moderator); Melissa Blue Sky, Staff Attorney, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL); Shelley Gardner, Illegal Logging Program Coordinator, USDA Forest Service; Ruth Noguerón, Forests Program, World Resources Institute
Description: This seminar consider the challenges of enforcing timber harvesting regulations, the environmental impacts of the proliferation of illegal logging, the use of existing legal provisions to incentivize citizen enforcement, and how practitioners can support this process.
3. Enforcing Maritime Laws: the Role of Private Citizens
Tuesday, April 16, 10:00 am - 11:30 am EDT
Panelists: Xiao Recio-Blanco, Director, Oceans Program, Environmental Law Institute; Managing Director, INECE Secretariat (Moderator); Anton DeStefano, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Environmental Law Division; Stephen Kohn, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board, National Whistleblower Center; Joseph Poux, Deputy Chief, Environmental Crimes Section of Department of Justice, Chair, INTERPOL Pollution Crime Working Group
Description: This seminar will examine different dimensions of enforcing marine pollution laws and conventions and explore the role that whistleblowers can and do play in the detection of pollution violations. The session will aim to give participants a better idea of how they can engage unconventional actors in ensuring compliance with marine pollution regulations.
4. Collecting and Reporting Evidence of Environmental Law Violations: Tools That Work for Citizens
Thursday, June 13, 10:00 am - 11:30 am EDT
Panelists: LeRoy C. Paddock, Associate Dean for Environmental Studies, George Washington University Law School (Moderator); Shaun Goho, Deputy Director of Emmett Environmental Law & Policy Clinic, Harvard Law School; John Kostyack, Executive Director, National Whistleblower Center; and Lea Shanley, Co-Executive Director, South Big Data Innovation Hub.
Description: This seminar will focus on the importance of engaging citizens in the environmental monitoring and enforcement process and explore the roles of different entities in educating and empowering them to do so.
View Video Recording.
More details on upcoming sessions, dates, related publications, and experts, will be posted on this page shortly.
If you are interested in participating as an expert in this Compliance Conversation, please email li@eli.org.