The Public Interest Environmental Law Conference kicks off Thursday at the University of Oregon in Eugene. The 4-day event expects 3,000 participants.
The Environmental Law Conference has been an annual draw for global activists, attorneys and local community members since it started in 1983. This year’s theme is “local character, global vision”. Organizer Corrine Millinovich says they’ve planned a diverse set of panels, with 5 keynote speakers, 4 of whom are women.
“We really hope to allow a space for people to have quality discussion and debates and walk away with tools that they could use beyond the conference.”
Several of the conference presentations focus on fighting rollbacks of federal environmental laws. Attorney Julia Olson, an attorney who represents the 21 youths who are suing the federal government over climate change, is the keynote speaker Friday.
