The Pritzker Environmental Law and Policy Briefs are published by UCLA School of Law in conjunction with researchers from a wide range of academic disciplines as well as the broader environmental law community. The papers provide expert analysis to engage further public dialogue on important issues impacting the environment. This paper series is made possible through a generous donation by Anthony “Tony” Pritzker.
No 15. Increasing Access to Green Space and Affordable Housing in Los Angeles through Joint Development Projects
January 2023 | Beth Kent
This Pritzker Brief focuses on the joint development of parks and affordable housing projects in Los Angeles. After describing the barriers to building parks and affordable housing separately and concurrently, the paper describes the key entities involved in these types of joint development projects, as well as each entity’s funding sources, major programs, strengths, and constraints. View publication page. Download PDF.
No 14. How Air Districts Can End NOx Pollution from Household Appliances
March 2022 | Heather Dadashi, Cara Horowitz, and Julia Stein
This policy brief examines California air districts’ legal authority to adopt standards requiring zero-NOx appliances and suggests policy mechanisms to help ensure that the transition to such appliances is equitable and affordable. View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 13. Los Angeles’s Transit-Oriented Communities Program
November 21, 2019 | Julia E. Stein
This Pritzker Brief focuses on the City of Los Angeles’ Transit Oriented Communities Affordable Housing Incentive Program, exploring potential constraints and offering recommendations to increase the program’s efficacy. View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 12. The California Coastal Commission
June 10, 2019 | Ralph Faust
This Pritzker Brief analyzes the processes and procedures that the California Coastal Commission utilizes in making "quasi-judicial decisions." View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 11. Ensuring Safe Drinking Water in Los Angeles County Small Water Systems
December 28, 2018 | Nathaniel Logar, James Salzman, Cara Horowitz
This Pritzker Brief provides recommendations for helping small water systems in Los Angeles County become more resilient. View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 10. Controlling Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Transport Fuels
June 20, 2018 | Edward A. Parson, Julia Forgie, Jesse Lueders, Sean B. Hecht
This Pritzker Brief provides a critical review of California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 9. Overcoming Organizational Barriers to Carbon Neutrality
April 17, 2018 | Julia Forgie, Ann Carlson
This Pritzker Brief focuses on lessons the University of California system is learning as it implements its carbon neutrality goal. View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 8. Increasing Surface Water Storage in California
June 17, 2017 | Julia Forgie, James Salzman
This Pritzker Brief focuses on legal risks and timeline associated with increasing surface water storage in California. View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 7. Tracking Coastal Adaptation
May 12, 2015 | Megan Herzog, Susanne Moser, Sarah Newkirk
This Pritzker Brief focuses on Assembly Bill 2516, a law that requires California to develop a database of actions to plan for sea level rise. View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 6. Back in the Fast Lane: How to Speed Public Transit Planning & Construction in California
August 5, 2014 | Ethan Elkind
This Pritzker Brief examines some of the causes of public transit planning and construction delays, identifies flaws in current construction policy, and offers steps to be taken in order to prioritize public health and safety. View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 5. Stemming the Tide of Plastic Marine Litter
October 1, 2013 | Katie Mika, Lara Leitner, Mark Gold, Cara Horowitz, Megan Herzog
This Pritzker Brief reviews the universe of studies, policies and international agreements relevant to the problem and provides a suite of recommendations to achieve meaningful reductions in plastic marine litter by the year 2025. View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 4. Allocating Under Water: Reforming California's Groundwater Adjudications
September 18, 2013 | M. Rhead Enion
This Pritzker Brief evaluates the adjudicatory process used to resolve groundwater use disputes in California and recommends reforms that could be implemented by the legislature or courts to address problems in the adjudication and post-adjudication management of groundwater resources. View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 3. Toxics in Consumer Products: California's Green Chemistry Regulations at a Crossroad
January 30, 2012 | Timothy Malloy
This Pritzker Brief evaluates California's green chemistry legislation (AB 1879). View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 2. Bright Roofs, Big City
October 1, 2011 | Cara Horowitz
This Pritzker Brief makes a case for accelerating the adoption of cool roofs in L.A. and recommends law and policy strategies for achieving that goal. View publication page. Download PDF.
No. 1. Under Water: Monitoring and Regulating Groundwater in California
July 1, 2011 | M. Rhead Enion
This Pritzker Brief describes the importance of groundwater and the advantages of realigning California's water rights system to better manage groundwater. View publication page. Download PDF.
