GET INVOLVED
All government officials in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, both elected and appointed, are trustees of the environment.
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
The ERA should govern decisions at all levels, including land-use decisions, administrative action and comprehensive planning.
Government officials should make an accounting of the state of the natural resources within their jurisdictions and identify those resources that are at risk due to the
climate crisis.
Acknowledgment of the environmental trust can avoid wasteful litigation.
All government officials in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, both elected and appointed, are trustees of the environment.
ROLE OF THE PUBLIC
The public is entitled to
hold government officials — elected and appointed —accountable for the fulfillment of their constitutional
trust obligations.
The Initiative will educate and empower citizens, on behalf of themselves and future generations, to advocate for climate action plans that protect their environmental rights.
SIGN OUR PETITION
Over four decades ago, a predominantly Republican-led initiative saw the passing of the Environmental Rights Amendment (ERA) with an overwhelming 4-1 majority. This effort originated from a deep concern about the protection of our natural environment for future generations. Over the years, environmental stewardship has, regrettably, become a political bargaining chip, rather than remaining a commitment shared by all. Despite most Pennsylvanians acknowledging the pressing need for comprehensive ecological policies, our legislators are largely neglecting their constitutional obligations as environmental trustees. (source: Yale, Program on Climate Change Communication)
Such actions not only undermine the ERA but are a blatant violation of their duty towards the people and the environment they are elected to represent and protect. It's no longer sufficient to discuss the significance of the natural world; we must strive to enshrine its protection in our policies, legislation, and most importantly, in the actions of our chosen leaders.
Now is the moment to demand change, to call on Commonwealth decision-makers to recenter their obligations and make the Environmental Rights Amendment a cornerstone in their policy development and legislative processes. This is not just about politics; it's about the futures we are fighting to protect. Stand with us as we tell our legislators to uphold the trust and accountability vested in them – let us remind them of the necessity of the Environmental Rights Amendment. Please, sign and share this petition demanding Pennsylvania officials prioritize the implementation of the ERA, fulfilling their duties as trustees of the environment. Our Constitutional rights depend on it.