Owning Up to the Environment

24 Pages Posted: 2 Jul 2010 Last revised: 4 Jul 2010

See all articles by Daniel A. Farber

Daniel A. Farber

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law

Date Written: June 30, 2010

Abstract

This essay argues that, rather than being a constitutional bulwark against environmental regulation, certain kinds of property rights can actually ease constitutional barriers created by current Supreme Court doctrine. These environmental property rights (EPRs) are either rights to prevent environmental degradation (such as conservation easements) or limited rights to impair the environment (such as tradable pollution permits.) Among other possible benefits, these property rights may help nudge constitutional law in a more environmentally friendly direction in the areas of standing, takings, and the federal commerce power.

Keywords: environmental property rights, cap and trade, tradable permits, public trust doctrine, conservation trust

JEL Classification: K11, Q20

Suggested Citation

Farber, Daniel A., Owning Up to the Environment (June 30, 2010). UC Berkeley Public Law Research Paper No. 1633014, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1633014 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1633014

Daniel A. Farber (Contact Author)

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law ( email )

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