Lafayette, County Law Builds on Growing Rights-Based Efforts to Stop Climate Change. A Press Release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, from April 5, 2017. Lafayette, Colorado: On March 22nd, the City Council ofLafayette, Colorado, became the first municipality in the state to recognize a right to a healthy climate for people and nature, and to [...]
CELDF working in India to Recognize Rights of the Ganga River Basin. A Press Release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, from March 22, 2017. Mercersburg, Pennsylvania: On March 20, the High Court of Uttarakhand at Naintal, in the State of Uttarakhand in northern India, issued a ruling declaring that the River Ganga and [...]
Department of Environmental Protection Issues Permits to Polluting Corporations; Simultaneously Sues Communities to Overturn Bans on Frack Wastewater Dumping. A Press Release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, from March 22, 2017. Mercersburg, Pennsylvania: On Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued permits to two polluting corporations. The permits signify the DEP’s [...]
Bowling Green students & community advance charter amendment establishing right to a healthy climate; bans Nexus pipeline. A Press Release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, from March 22, 2017. Bowling Green, Ohio: The Bowling Green Climate Protectors coalition announced today they are gathering signatures to place their Community Rights to a Healthy Environment [...]
Plaintiffs Advance Climate Rights and the Right of Self-Government. A Press Release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, from January 31, 2017. Spokane, Washington: Today, Spokane activists, including several who were arrested for blocking fossil fuel trains in Spokane four months ago, filed suit against the federal government in the United States District Court [...]
Motion Follows Second Industry Lawsuit Claiming a Corporate “Right” to Inject Frack Wastewater in Highland Township, PA. A Press Release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, from January 13, 2017. Highland Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania: Today, Citizens Advocating a Clean Healthy Environment (CACHE) and the Crystal Spring Ecosystem filed to intervene in the federal [...]
Supervisors back off illegal and illegitimate attempts to remove Water Authority members. A Press Release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, from January 4, 2017. Highland Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania: On November 9, 2016, shortly after voters approved a new Home Rule Charter for the municipality, Supervisors in Highland Township attempted to replace the [...]
A Press Release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, from December 29, 2016. The people of Lafayette, Colorado have introduced an ordinance for formal adoption to the Lafayette City Council. The measure titled, “Climate Bill of Rights and Protections” is a law that will codify the right to a healthy climate and community member’s [...]
City joins growing numbers of Ohio communities banning harmful fracking related activities. A Press Release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, from November 8/9, 2016. Waterville, Ohio: Today the voters in Waterville overwhelmingly approved the Waterville Community Bill of Rights Charter Amendment by a vote of 60% to 40%. Waterville joins a growing number [...]
Despite defeat, growing coalitions leave no doubt that more residents realize their community is at stake. A Press Release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense: Youngstown, Ohio: By a vote of 55% to 45%, the Youngstown Community Bill of Rights Charter Amendment was defeated. If adopted, the measure would have secured the right to clean [...]