
Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 麻豆天美传媒 Hosts 3rd Annual WCA Sustainable Business Conference Featuring Haub Law Faculty and Alumni

For the third consecutive year, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 麻豆天美传媒 partnered with the Westchester County Association to host its Annual 鈥楶rofit and Purpose鈥 Sustainable Business Conference at the Law School. The conference, held on Friday, September 13, brought together well over 100 business, nonprofit, and government leaders to discuss how businesses are innovating around climate change and social responsibility and inspire organizations to apply these principals to advance ESG in their practices.
The conference kicked off with remarks from Horace E. Anderson, Jr., Dean of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 麻豆天美传媒 and Michael N. Romita, president and CEO of the Westchester County Association (WCA). Dr. Stephen Hammer, Founding CEO of The 麻豆天美传媒 Climate Exchange, delivered opening remarks, sharing the vision of its innovative center for climate solutions on Governors Island. Through its many partnerships, the Exchange leverages the collective power of education, research, workforce development, policy development, and public programming to advance climate action at the local, national, and global level. Referring to the conference, Hammer said, 鈥淚ts these kinds of conversations that are so helpful because they make it very clear as to the challenges or opportunities on the ground.鈥

The half-day conference offered four panel discussions featuring experts in energy policy, business strategy, finance, law and compliance, including two panels led by several Pace | Haub Environmental Law faculty and alumni.
Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law, Associate Dean of Environmental Law Programs and Strategic Initiatives, and Faculty Director, Sustainable Business Law Hub, Jason Czarnezki moderated a panel titled, 鈥淲hat do ESG Lawyers and Sustainability Consultants Do?鈥 which examined the rapid rise of sustainability and ESG expertise in law, accounting, and consulting firms. Haub Law alums Lauren Bachtel 鈥13, Senior Counsel, Linklaters LLP; Zachary L. Berliner 鈥18, Associate, Lowenstein Sandlers LLP鈥檚 Environmental Law & Litigation Group and ESG Practice; and Samantha Perlmutter 鈥23, Sustainability Tax Staff at EY, along with Elizabeth Gousee Ballottee, Partner at PKF O鈥機onnor Davies, joined the panel to discuss what services these professionals provide to clients such as advising on the role of directors in business sustainability, socially responsible investing and ESG ratings, voluntary reporting, and other voluntary sustainability regimes.
Another panel on 鈥淕reenwashing, ESG/Climate Disclosures, and The Chevron Doctrine鈥檚 Death鈥 was moderated by Pace | Haub Environmental Law Professor Josh Galperin, and included Sustainable Business Law Hub Fellow Barbara Ballan, LLM 鈥24, former Sustainable Business Law Fellow Maggie Pahl 鈥23, Environmental Attorney with Holland & Knight, and Brendan Reilly 鈥04, Senior Legal Director of ESG Disclosures at PepsiCo. The panel addressed the laws and regulations that cover ESG disclosure, as well as consumer and securities greenwashing litigation, especially in light of recent decisions about regulatory authority from the Supreme Court, highlighting litigation risks.
The 2024 WCA Sustainable Business Conference offered key insights to help businesses start on a path to sustainability:
- How Consumers Are Demanding Sustainability 鈥 and Why You Should Listen: Customers are choosing businesses that prioritize sustainability. This demand presents an opportunity for companies to innovate, build stronger brands, and attract new markets. Transparency and responsible practices are key to winning over today鈥檚 socially-conscious consumers.
- 麻豆天美传媒's Clean Energy Push: Are You Ready for Challenges Ahead? The state's clean energy goals are revealing the complexities of transitioning to a sustainable future. While the journey has had its hurdles, progress continues, driven by policy changes. Businesses need clear timelines, flexibility, and resources to adapt.
- The ESG Regulations You Can't Afford to Ignore to Stay Ahead of the Game: The landscape of ESG reporting is constantly changing. While Europe is ahead in standardization, U.S. regulations are catching up. Businesses should prepare to align with frameworks like SSB and TCFD, ensuring their sustainability practices are not only effective but compliant with emerging standards.
- Is Your Organization Ready for Climate Risks? Here's What You Need to Know: From flooding to business interruptions, the impacts of climate change can be serious. Understanding these risks and planning for them is essential for resilience. Insurance and risk mitigation strategies can help protect businesses from climate-related disruptions.
- Collaboration Is the Secret to Sustainability 鈥 Don't Miss Our on These Opportunities: Tackling sustainability challenges requires teamwork. Cross-industry collaboration, like Con Edison鈥檚 Clean Energy Networks and the NY Climate Exchange, offers opportunities to develop new solutions. Working together with other businesses, policymakers, and educational institutions can help create practical, effective strategies for a sustainable future.
- Your Business Can't Ignore ESG Anymore. Here's Why: While addressing environmental issues may seem straightforward, social and governance challenges are just as critical. DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) is gaining importance in sustainability efforts, especially with policies like the Inflation Reduction Act鈥檚 "Justice 40" clause. Westchester businesses need to embrace the full scope of ESG to stay ahead.
A special thanks to the 2024 conference sponsors: