J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School
description
Transcript of J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School
![Page 1: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
J.B . RUHLD AV I D D A N I E L S A L L E N C H A I R I N L AW
VA N D E R B I LT U N I V ER SI T Y L AW S C H O O LN A S H V I L L E , T E N N E SSE E , U S A
NATURAL CAPITAL AND THE RULE OF LAW
Second Asian Judges Symposium on Environment Dec. 3-5, 2013
![Page 2: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Introduction
![Page 3: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
How to Protect Natural Capital
In Order to Protect Ecosystem Services
Groundwater recharge
Water supplySediment captureFlood controlBiodiversityWildlife HabitatRecreation
The Legal Challenge
![Page 4: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Building the Law and Policy of Ecosystem Services
Context: The knowledge base (ecology, geography, economics) from which law must work
Current Status: The baseline of existing property rights, regulations, and social norms
Designing New Legal Principles: The choice of institutions and instruments to advance the new policies
![Page 5: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Complex Ecology: Natural capital and its ecosystem services system are spatially and temporally complex
Unclear Property Rights: Lack of clarity about land and resource owners’ rights and obligations
Unclear Legal Authority: Uncertainty about agency and judicial authority to incorporate natural capital and ecosystem service values into decision making
THREE KEY CHALLENGES
![Page 6: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
COMPLEX ECOLOGYThe Entire Ecosystem Service
Delivery System Must Be Protected
1. Natural capital source
2. Service provision (time A)
3. Service delivery channel (time B)
6. Many end user contexts
4. Beneficiary sites at different distances
5. Service delivery(time C)
Wetlands
River Clean water for
farms and cities
Streams Time and Distance
![Page 7: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
PROPERTY RIGHTSEstablishing Rights and Duties
Who owns ecosystem services? Pollination? Groundwater
recharge? Flood control?What services must
landowners provide to the public? Duty to public?
What services must landowners provide to surrounding landowners? Minimum standards of
care?
![Page 8: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
PROPERTY RIGHTSRemedies
What are the remedies for destroying natural capital or interfering with ecosystem services? Private nuisance? Public nuisance?
What of misuse of public property? Public trust duties?
![Page 9: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
LEGAL AUTHORITYPotential Sources
ConstitutionsTreatiesLegislative
Statutes Administrative
Regulations and Policies
Law of Property, Torts, Contracts
![Page 10: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
LEGAL AUTHORITYInterpretation Questions
Constitutional terms are broad
Statutes pre-date awareness of natural capital
Undefined statutory termsUnclear boundaries of
agency discretionBalancing property rights
with new policies
![Page 11: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
LEGAL AUTHORITYChallenges for Courts
Establishing principles ofStandingPleadingEvidenceBurden of proofRemedy
![Page 12: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
BEGINNING AN EVOLUTION IN PROPERTY LAW?
Examples of Judicial Innovation in the U.S.
![Page 13: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
The Situation In the U.S.
Not much progress in public law forums:U.S. Constitution protects property rights but not the
environmentSome recent statutes enable natural capital markets
2008 Farm Bill and USDA Office of Environmental MarketsSome federal agencies have begun to use ecosystem
services as part of mitigation decisions 2008 US EPA and wetlands mitigation rule 2012 US Forest Service planning rule
But US state courts have begun to adjust common law property rights
![Page 14: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Palazzolo v. State, 2005 WL 1645974 (Super. Ct. R.I., July 5, 2005):
Land developer sought to fill coastal pond to build homesState of Rhode Island allowed only one home to be builtDeveloper sued for taking of property without just
compensation Court denied taking claim, finding destruction of the pond
would constitute a public nuisance because the pond “actually filters and cleans runoff”
“This Court finds that the effects of increased nitrogen levels constitute a predictable (anticipatory) nuisance which
would almost certainly result in an ecological disaster to the pond.”
U. S. Common Law: Nuisance Doctrine
![Page 15: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Avenal v. State, 886 So.2d 1085 (La. 2004)State of Louisiana sought to alter public water diversion
channelOyster farm leasing the area claimed taking of propertyCourt denied taking claim because state must manage the area
for the public trust
“The public resource at issue is our very coastline, the loss of which is occurring at an alarming rate. The risks involved are
not just environmental, but involve the health, safety, and welfare of our people, as coastal erosion removes an important
barrier between large populations and ever-threatening hurricanes and storms.”
U.S. Common Law: Public Trust Doctrine
![Page 16: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Conclusions
Courts will play a significant role in the development of natural capital and ecosystem services in environmental law:Defining property rights, duties, and
remediesInterpreting constitutional, statutory, and
regulatory provisions Establishing access to and standards of
judicial reliefHelping to shape social and cultural norms
![Page 17: J.B. Ruhl David daniels allen chair in law Vanderbilt university Law School](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022062315/56816287550346895dd2f79c/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
QUESTIONS?