Technology is everywhere. It affects how we live our personal and professional lives. It is constantly evolving. Technology has made a lot of things easier as well as other things possible that never were before. It has also created issues, threats, and risks that affect the world.
We are in an environmental crisis. To name a few: climate change, depletion of resources, pollution, poverty, and pesticides wear our world down. People and organizations on both a macro and micro level contribute to this crisis. How is technology intertwined? It works in two ways. On one hand, it is partly why some of these issues exist. On the other hand, it presents the tools for environmental impact and solutions.
For those looking to use the law to increase environmental protections, McGeorge School of Law has two specialized program options. Both our LLM and MSL degrees in water and environmental law give our students the skill set to shape the future of environmental advocacy and policy.
Emerging Technologies
Economic growth and scientific advancement led to technological innovation. Research allows those advocating for change to better understand the impact humans are having on the environment. Patterns, systems, and protections are identified and created. The environment and its protection will be driven by technology and regulation as we shift towards preventing further damage. The waste and pollution that we created, we can build systems to purify. The resources we depleted, we can rebuild more efficiently. As this occurs, we can use technology to predict future needs. Those in charge of ensuring net positive results take those needs and implement them into action by implementing protective laws.
AI’s Role
The whispers of artificial intelligence are now shouts, and now the reach of this newest technology is everywhere. The big question always is, “How does AI affect our industry and our world? What can it do now? What will it be capable of in the future?” These answers are constantly evolving. Stories pop up everywhere about artificial intelligence saving people time by parsing web databases and truncating information. And although we don’t know where AI will be in another few months, never mind another few years, we know that we can use it to create a positive impact.
When it comes to environmental law, artificial intelligence can gather information and project environmental risks. Using that helps others figure out what to advocate for, as well as where there is compliance with environmental regulations. It saves people time so that they just need to review the final product and make decisions on how to move forward.
The Risk
As technology continues to move forward, risk can increase. Hacking, breaches, or outages are all issues that technology and its systems face. Society must also make sure that as we advance in technology, it doesn’t have a negative impact on the environment. Innovations, such as plastic, ended up being useful for people but catastrophic for the world we live in. It is important that as we continue to move forward, we use these tools to slow down and reverse the damage that has been done.
Water and Environmental Law
Working within the environmental legal field is to advocate for positive change. Environmental regulations exist to hold organizations and countries to standards and goals that don’t depreciate our environment. It’s crucial to continue fighting for not only more environmental protections but to keep the ones we have in place. As political trends sway, keeping the Earth a habitable place should not waver.
Many careers may utilize this specialized degree. Engineers, consultants, lobbyists, and planners are all examples of paths within this industry.
McGeorge’s MSL program is a great fit for those who want to get into this career but don’t want a law degree. The law intersects with every industry and the environment is an important one. Our program has classes in legislature, policymaking, negotiations, environmental justice, and lobbying, to name a few. It is a completely online program, giving our students the freedom to fit their education into their schedule. And it is rooted in California water law, benefiting experts actively engaged in shaping regulations firsthand. Our distinguished faculty are at students’ disposal, giving an asynchronous online program a wealth of resources.
If you’re considering advancing in your career with a specialized degree, consider McGeroge’s MSL program. Have more questions or want to begin the process? Contact our admissions office today!