Published: Volume 26, Issue 3 of the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law

By VJEL
Spring 2025

The Vermont Journal of Environmental Law (VJEL) is pleased to announce the publication of Volume 26, Issue 3. This Issue brings together critical scholarship at the intersection of law, environment, and justice—offering bold and timely insights into climate litigation, valuation of environmental harms, and federal conservation strategies.

VJEL publishes exclusively online, and this Issue may be accessed on our website by clicking this link to view our Volume 26, Issue 3 Publication or by accessing our Current Volume from the navigation header.

Articles:

First, Dayna Smith’s “The Ripple Effect: Examining Judicial Activism in Two Landmark Climate Cases” explores the influence of judicial decisions on global climate litigation. Analyzing Massachusetts v. EPA and Urgenda Foundation v. Netherlands, Smith illustrates how courts can serve as powerful catalysts in advancing environmental governance through judicial activism.

Next, “To His Dog, Every Man Is Napoleon: Using Contingent Valuation to Bridge the Gap Between Environmental Nonuse Damages and Companion Animal Damages” by Dawson Vandervort presents an innovative interdisciplinary argument for applying contingent valuation methodologies to quantify nonmarket harms. Vandervort’s piece highlights how legal frameworks can better reflect the social value of companion animals and environmental resources.

Finally, Wesley Peebles offers a compelling regional focus in “Longleaf Pine Restoration: Leveraging Federal Legal Mechanisms for Landscape Conservation Across the Southeast.” This article examines the tools available for large-scale ecological restoration and conservation, highlighting the longleaf pine as a case study in cross-jurisdictional environmental collaboration.