Great Rivers Environmental Law Center

26 days to go! 🎶

Great Rivers Environmental Law Center’s Annual Celebration & Fundraiser is almost here, and we’re excited to gather at The Sheldon Concert Hall & Art Galleries on September 27.

Join us for an evening of live music, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, good company, and a special program celebrating the work of Great Rivers Environmental Law Center — including the presentation of the Lewis C. Green Environmental Service Award.

🎟️ Tickets are available now.

And if you’ve been thinking about sponsoring this year’s event, this is our final call for event sponsors. Sponsorships begin at $500 and directly support Great Rivers Environmental Law Center’s public-interest environmental legal work across Missouri and Southern Illinois.

September 27 | 5:00–7:30 PM
The Sheldon Concert Hall & Art Galleries

Find out more at: greatriverslaw.org/2026celebration

We’re excited to be part of River Soundings 2026: Traveling Big Rivers on September 16!

Great Rivers Environmental Law Center's Bob Menees will join an incredible lineup of speakers to share a Critical Legal Issues Update and talk about some of the issues affecting our rivers, communities, and natural resources.

A big thank you to our friends at Greenway Network for bringing this conference together and creating space for people who care about our rivers to learn, connect, and share ideas. We’re excited to be part of the day alongside so many other organizations, advocates, and community partners doing important work across our region.

📅 Wednesday, September 16
📍 Beyond Housing Headquarters
🍽️ Lunch provided
🌊 Full day of speakers, conversation, and connection

We hope to see some familiar faces there!

Learn more and register: https://greenwaynetwork.org/2026/08/03/river-soundings2026/

Have you gotten tickets for this year's annual celebration and fundraiser? Grab a friend, get your tickets, and help us protect air, water, land, and public health, together 🌱

Great Rivers Environmental Law Center Annual Celebration and Fundraiser Every year, we gather to celebrate the people and partnerships that make our work possible. The 2026 Great Rivers Environmental Law Center Annual Celebration and Fundraiser is our signature fundraising event, bringing together community leaders, environmental advocates, and supporters who share a co...

Decisions about how Missouri meets growing electricity demand will shape customer bills, air quality, and climate pollution for decades.

Ameren Missouri is seeking approval to build a new 2,100-megawatt natural-gas plant in West Alton and to begin recovering certain construction costs from customers before the plant begins operating.

At Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, we work at the intersection of energy, affordability, climate, and public participation. Proposals of this scale show why communities need transparent decision-making, careful consideration of alternatives, and a meaningful voice in decisions that will affect them for years to come.

Ameren Missouri asks to build new natural gas plant — and have customers pay up front Ameren Missouri is asking regulators to build a new natural gas plant near the Mississippi River in West Alton. The utility wants to use a new financing method that would result in customers paying for the plant as it is built.

Why does a tax renewal show up on Missouri's ballot as a constitutional amendment?

On August 4, voters will decide on Amendment 1 — the renewal of the Parks, Soils & Water Sales Tax that funds roughly 75% of Missouri's state park operating budget and supports soil and water conservation in all 114 counties.

Our Executive Director, Natalie Johnson, breaks down the "why" behind this vote — what it does, why it requires voter approval every 10 years, what the tax funds, and why it matters for Missouri's parks and waterways. We won't tell you how to vote, but we do believe in informing and educating, especially when it comes to protecting our treasured natural resources.

The Law Behind the Landscape: Why Missouri Voters Are Discussing Amendment 1 Lawyers for People & the Environment

In a time filled with fighting for the environment using the power of legal tools, sometimes it's good to simply slow down — and enjoy the waterways we work to protect. May you find the time to recharge too.

Photo: Jacks Fork River (Mountain View, MO)

Communities bring lived experience.
We bring legal expertise.
Together, we create lasting environmental change.

That's the heart of community lawyering. It means we listen, learn, and let the community drive what is needed.

At Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, we believe environmental solutions are strongest when they're shaped by the people who experience these challenges every day. Our attorneys work alongside residents, neighborhood organizations, and community partners to navigate environmental laws, hold decision-makers accountable, and build lasting protections for Missouri's communities and natural resources.

Because meaningful change doesn't happen to communities—it happens with them.

Last month, we joined environmental attorneys from across the Midwest for the inaugural Midwest Public Interest Environmental Litigators Conference. We were grateful for the opportunity to collaborate, share experiences, and bring lessons learned back to our work serving communities throughout Missouri and Southern Illinois. Our gratitude goes out to the Environmental Law & Policy Center and the University of Chicago Law School for hosting. Cheers to collaboration! 🌿

Environmental Litigators Conference Brings Together Midwest Defenders ELPC and the University of Chicago Law School convened environmental attorneys from around the Midwest.

Last week, we attended Kansas City's Climate Council Resource Connections meeting, where we shared information about the resources and services available through Great Rivers Environmental Law Center.

While there, it was hard to miss the anticipation surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the region preparing to host matches and visitors from around the world.

This recent article caught our attention because it highlights an interesting intersection between climate and major public events. The article discusses how researchers and health experts are evaluating the potential impacts of higher temperatures on athletes, workers, and spectators during the 2026 World Cup. It also explores how event organizers are considering weather conditions as part of their planning efforts.

Climate-related considerations increasingly influence decisions across many sectors, including public health, infrastructure, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and major sporting events. The World Cup provides one example of how these discussions are taking place on a global stage.

Most dangerous World Cup ever? Climate change poses growing risks for players FIFA is well aware that extreme heat and humidity could affect the 2026 World Cup, and that's why this might be the final World Cup to be played in the summer.