About Me

Headshot 2017Ethan is an attorney who directs the climate program at the Center for Law, Energy and the Environment (CLEE) at UC Berkeley Law. He also has an appointment at the UCLA Law’s Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. His areas of focus include land use, transportation, electric vehicles, energy storage, and renewable energy.

As part of this work, he authors policy reports and in-depth studies on environmental topics and is a frequent public speaker at conferences, schools, and other venues. He is also a regular commentator in the media, including the New York Times, Washington Post, BBC, Los Angeles Times, and other major outlets. In January 2014, University of California Press published his book “Railtown: The Fight for the Los Angeles Metro Rail System and the Future of the City.”

Previously, he taught at UCLA Law’s Frank Wells Environmental Law Clinic and served as an environmental law research fellow. In 2005, he co-founded The Nakwatsvewat Institute, Inc., a Native American nonprofit organization that provides alternative dispute resolution services and support for tribal governance, justice and educational institutions.

Ethan is a co-host of the weekly call-in radio show “State of the Bay” on the San Francisco NPR affiliate KALW 91.7 FM, airing Monday nights at 6pm.

Before attending law school, he worked for Interscope Geffen A&M Records and as a performing musician. He released two albums, “A Locked Box of Treasure” (1999) and “Tales from California” (2006). He is a graduate of Brown University and received his law degree from UCLA.

Contact Ethan at ethan@ethanelkind.com.