Energy and Environmental Security Initiative (EESI)
Encyclopedia
Established in 2003, the Energy and Environmental Security Initiative (EESI) is an interdisciplinary Research & Policy Institute
located at the University of Colorado Law School
. The fundamental mission of EESI is to serve as an interdisciplinary research and policy center concerning the development and crafting of State policies, U.S. energy policies
, and global responses to the world's energy crisis; and to facilitate the attainment of a global sustainable energy
future through the innovative use of laws, policies and technology solutions. In pursuit of this mission, EESI's primary operational function is that of an enabling environment for teaching, research and policy analysis vis-à-vis the impact of laws and policies on the scientific, technological, sociopolitical, commercial, and environmental dimensions of sustainable energy.
Excluded from CAD proposals are documents that: (1) are older than two years old (defined as generated prior to January 1, 2005), with certain exceptions; (2) are directed at international activities or policies, unless such activities or policies are to be implemented by the President or executive administrative entities; (3) are directed at a U.S. state other than California, or a regional collaboration other than RGGI; (4) that deal with management of the federal transportation fleet or federal buildings. CAD is not, at present, a living database—meaning that it is not intended to offer an up-to-the moment repository for U.S. federal climate proposals. The material contained in CAD is generally current through February 2007.
. Situated on the southern end of the University of Colorado at Boulder
campus, the Wolf Law Building was completed in August 2006 and dedicated on September 8. Approximately 60 percent of the Wolf Law Building was financed by University of Colorado at Boulder students. Under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) Green Building Rating System, the Wolf Law Building has received Gold certification. It is the first publicly supported law school in the country to obtain Gold.
As the parent organization of EESI, the University of Colorado Law School is well known for its strength in the area of environmental law. The U.S. News and World Report's 2008 edition of America's Best Graduate Schools (reporting on 2005-6 academic-year data) ranks the law school's environmental law program as 4th in the United States.
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
located at the University of Colorado Law School
University of Colorado School of Law
The University of Colorado Law School is one of the professional graduate schools within the University of Colorado System. It is a public law school, with more than 500 students attending and working toward a Juris Doctor or Master of Law. The Wolf Law Building Located in Boulder, Colorado, and...
. The fundamental mission of EESI is to serve as an interdisciplinary research and policy center concerning the development and crafting of State policies, U.S. energy policies
Energy policy of the United States
The energy policy of the United States is determined by federal, state and local public entities in the United States, which address issues of energy production, distribution, and consumption, such as building codes and gas mileage standards...
, and global responses to the world's energy crisis; and to facilitate the attainment of a global sustainable energy
Sustainable energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
future through the innovative use of laws, policies and technology solutions. In pursuit of this mission, EESI's primary operational function is that of an enabling environment for teaching, research and policy analysis vis-à-vis the impact of laws and policies on the scientific, technological, sociopolitical, commercial, and environmental dimensions of sustainable energy.
International Sustainable Energy Assessment (ISEA)
ISEA is a comprehensive global database of international treaties dealing with, or relevant to, the following energy categories, inter alia: conventional sources of energy such as oil, natural gas, and coal; renewable energy, such as wind, biomass, solar, geothermal, and hydro; energy efficiency and energy conservation; nuclear power; carbon capture and sequestration; and transportation. ISEAInternational Project on Energy Commitments and Compliance (IPECC)
IPECC is designed to improve and enhance the efforts of governments, non-governmental actors—such as corporations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), trade unions, churches—and key decision-makers throughout the world in two ways: First by evaluating the extent to which their existing commitments and pledges are actually working; and second, by facilitating new and better clean and affordable energy solutions. IPECC will provide the information needed to improve the effectiveness of existing commitments and encourage new commitments where necessary. It is designed to track and monitor the implementation of sustainable energy commitments undertaken by governments, corporations and other entities, and to provide detailed information on the extent to which they are being complied with. In doing so it will serve as a watchdog over what is and should be happening with respect to these instruments and the commitments they embody. IPECCThe EESI Climate Action Database (CAD)
CAD contains U.S. policy proposals directed at the issue of climate change. CAD Primary document types contained in CAD include:- Proposed Federal Legislation. Federal Legislative proposals (i.e., bills actually introduced) for climate stabilization and related energy security and national security actions to be undertaken by the U.S. President, executive administrative entities, or the U.S Congress.
- Proposals. Non-legislative proposals for climate stabilization and related energy security and national security actions to be undertaken by the U.S. President, executive administrative entities, or the U.S Congress.
- Impact Analyses. Documents that seek to ascertain the environmental, fiscal and/or carbon impacts of proposed actions.
- California and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). With respect to California, CAD contains select documents potentially applicable to the federal context. Additionally, CAD contains documents related to RGGI to that may be applicable the federal context.
Excluded from CAD proposals are documents that: (1) are older than two years old (defined as generated prior to January 1, 2005), with certain exceptions; (2) are directed at international activities or policies, unless such activities or policies are to be implemented by the President or executive administrative entities; (3) are directed at a U.S. state other than California, or a regional collaboration other than RGGI; (4) that deal with management of the federal transportation fleet or federal buildings. CAD is not, at present, a living database—meaning that it is not intended to offer an up-to-the moment repository for U.S. federal climate proposals. The material contained in CAD is generally current through February 2007.
Location
EESI is located within the Wolf Law Building, which houses the University of Colorado Law SchoolUniversity of Colorado School of Law
The University of Colorado Law School is one of the professional graduate schools within the University of Colorado System. It is a public law school, with more than 500 students attending and working toward a Juris Doctor or Master of Law. The Wolf Law Building Located in Boulder, Colorado, and...
. Situated on the southern end of the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
campus, the Wolf Law Building was completed in August 2006 and dedicated on September 8. Approximately 60 percent of the Wolf Law Building was financed by University of Colorado at Boulder students. Under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
(LEED) Green Building Rating System, the Wolf Law Building has received Gold certification. It is the first publicly supported law school in the country to obtain Gold.
As the parent organization of EESI, the University of Colorado Law School is well known for its strength in the area of environmental law. The U.S. News and World Report's 2008 edition of America's Best Graduate Schools (reporting on 2005-6 academic-year data) ranks the law school's environmental law program as 4th in the United States.
Parent organizations
- University of Colorado Law SchoolUniversity of Colorado School of LawThe University of Colorado Law School is one of the professional graduate schools within the University of Colorado System. It is a public law school, with more than 500 students attending and working toward a Juris Doctor or Master of Law. The Wolf Law Building Located in Boulder, Colorado, and...
- University of Colorado at BoulderUniversity of Colorado at BoulderThe University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
See also
- List of energy topics
- Renewable energy development
- Mitigation of global warmingMitigation of global warmingClimate change mitigation is action to decrease the intensity of radiative forcing in order to reduce the potential effects of global warming. Mitigation is distinguished from adaptation to global warming, which involves acting to tolerate the effects of global warming...
- Sustainable energySustainable energySustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
- Electrical energy efficiency on United States farmsElectrical energy efficiency on United States farmsElectrical energy efficiency on United States farms covers the use of electricity on farms and the methods and incentives for improving the efficiency of that use.U.S...
External links
- EESI Home Page—Official website
- International Sustainable Energy Assessment—Database of International Energy Treaties
- EESI Climate Action Database—Database of Major U.S. Climate Change Policy Proposals
- List of Select EESI Projects
- University of Colorado Law School
- University of Colorado at Boulder