HARRISBURG (Nov. 25, 2015) - The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) House of Delegates has approved a resolution proposed by the PBA Environmental and Energy Law Section that calls on the federal government and all state governments to address threats posed by climate change.

"The Pennsylvania Constitution, in the Environmental Rights Amendment, Article 1, Section 27, guarantees to all of the people, including generations yet to come, a right to clean air, pure water and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment," said PBA President William H. Pugh V. "Lawyers should contribute solutions to the problem of global climate change through the review and development of appropriate legislative and regulatory measures and to adopt voluntary measures to reduce the carbon footprint of our activities."

Richard H. Friedman, chair of the PBA Environmental and Energy Law Section, and section member Steve G. Harvey presented the resolution at the Nov. 20 meeting of the PBA House of Delegates in Harrisburg.

"Through this resolution, the PBA calls on all sectors of society and all lawyers to use the powers at their disposal to address global climate change and participate in the review and development of appropriate policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Friedman.

Harvey explained that the resolution calls on the U.S. Congress and U.S. President, the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor, and the governments of other states to acknowledge the threat of global climate change caused by human activities, to adopt laws and policies that lead to the substantial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with consideration of the economic impacts of such measures and to promote alternative energy sources and technologies.

Founded in 1895, the PBA strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 27,000 lawyers who are members of the association.