On March 28, the Environmental Law Society hosted the ELS Winter Weekend. Postponed due to a snowstorm in January, the Winter Weekend looked slightly different than in previous years—namely, rather than taking place in Provincetown, this year’s weekend brought BC Law students to Salem. 

The weekend began with an environmental justice walking tour. Students learned about the ways members of the Salem community (such as Salem Alliance For the Environment and the Punto Urban Art Museum) advocated for climate resilience and sustainability. For example, we heard about a community benefit agreement Salem negotiated for with energy developers, the ways Salem is balancing preservation of historic sights and communities with the threat of rising levels, and how Salem is seeking to foster neighborhood pride while maintaining affordability for residents through the involvement of local artists. 

After walking through Salem and learning about how actions taken in the earlier 19th century—such as building over a river—affect residents today, and how residents adjust to consequences such as flooding, the group moved to the YMCA for lunch and various presentations. 

Professor Caroline Cox led the first presentation about the history of environmental law, its changes over the years, and environmental law’s relationship with energy law. The second presentation was led by attorney Anxhela Mile from the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), who spoke about Massachusetts’ new energy regulations and the role CLF played in getting legislation through at the state level as well as the work CLF is currently doing to ensure the regulations meet residents’ needs. Finally, Stacy Kilb, Engagement Coordinator for Salem Sustainability & Resiliency Department, spoke about how Salem’s local government works to educate and engage residents with various sustainability programs. 

After the presentations, members of the group split off to explore Salem, reuniting at an optional happy hour before heading to dinner, and returning to Boston. 

The weekend created an opportunity for students interested in environmental law to connect with one another and to see how environmental law functions practically, at the federal, state, and local level, and the various roles lawyers play when practicing environmental law.

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Samantha Torre is a 2L student at BC Law. Contact her at torrs@bc.edu.