Albany Law School Hosts SEQRA 50th Anniversary Conference
Albany Law School hosted the SEQRA 50th Anniversary Conference on November 6–7, bringing together more than 200 leading scholars, policymakers, practitioners, and environmental professionals to reflect on five decades of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Enacted in 1975, SEQRA has shaped environmental decision-making and land-use planning across New York State, and the conference offered an opportunity to assess its legacy and consider its path forward.
Over two days, attendees explored how SEQRA has influenced environmental protection, development, and public participation, as well as its growing relevance in addressing climate change, renewable energy infrastructure, housing needs, and environmental justice. The program featured eight panel discussions, keynote remarks, and a closing conversation focused on the future of the law.
The conference opened with remarks from Albany Law School President and Dean Cinnamon Carlarne; Keith Hirokawa, Distinguished Professor of Law; and Michael Gerrard of Columbia Law School, co-author of Environmental Impact Review in New York. Their reflections set the stage for wide-ranging discussions on SEQRA’s achievements and challenges.
Panels included contributions from prominent voices in environmental law and policy, such as former DEC Commissioners Pete Grannis and Basil Seggos and former DEC General Counsel Thomas Berkman. Speakers examined SEQRA’s effectiveness, its role in shaping agency decision-making, and its impact on litigation and community engagement.
The conference was presented in partnership with the Albany Law Review, Albany Law School’s Government Law Center, Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, and the Environmental Law Program at Pace University’s Elizabeth Haub School of Law.
