EA505: Exploring Environmental Law and Its Impact on Business Sustainability

Written by Brad McQueen, Jenkins MBA ’25 and Graduate Business Sustainability Certificate

EA505 offers a comprehensive overview of key legal cases and statutes that shape environmental regulation. The first half of the course delves into the history of the Clean Air Act, reviewing pivotal legal battles where organizations challenged the EPA and other agencies—sometimes successfully, sometimes not—over regulatory overreach. The second half shifts focus to the Clean Water Act, following a similar case-study approach.

This course is ideal for those interested in environmental history and considering careers in environmental law or corporate compliance.

I recently attended the Cleantech Career Fair, where I had insightful discussions with representatives from the NC Public Utilities Commission. Their role involves interpreting these laws to ensure utility companies comply. They also highlighted recent rulings on Chevron Deference and the Loper Bright v. Raimondo case, and I found that the knowledge gained in EA505 gave me confidence to engage on these topics. It also helped me understand the vital role this class plays in the broader business sustainability landscape.