Richard Lazarus, the Howard and Katherine Aibel Professor of Law, explained the current state of “environmental lawlessness” in his chair lecture April 10. A video recording of the event is available here.
Speaking before a crowd of family, students, colleagues, and friends—including Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts—Professor Lazarus described how environmental law has fallen “in arrears.” After a period of legal and policy innovation that resulted in landmark statutes like the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, Congress has not passed a major new environmental statute or amendment since 1990, he said. The result of this stagnation is a growing mismatch between contemporary technology and environmental issues and outdated, inflexible statutes.
Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow introduced Professor Lazarus, praising his experience litigating before the Supreme Court, his commitment to environmental law, and his devotion to students.
Howard Aibel ’51 has had a wide-ranging legal career, from developing the mediation practice at LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae to serving as internal antitrust litigation counsel at General Electric . His wife, Katherine Aibel, was a social worker and volunteer court-appointed guardian. She passed away in 2006.
