John Dernbach

John Dernbach

Author on Sustainable Development and Climate Change Law

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Author Archives: John Dernbach

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Christianity and the Environment: An Earth Day Sermon

I was privileged to give an Earth Day sermon on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at my home church, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  The sermon is set out below.   The Dean has honored me, with her invitation to speak…

By John Dernbach • May 1, 2022

Commonwealth Must Consider in Advance Environmental Impacts of its Decisions Under the Environmental Rights Amendment

A newly filed amicus brief in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court argues that the state’s Environmental Rights Amendment requires the Department of Environmental Protection to consider in advance the environmental impacts of its decisions. This is…

By John Dernbach • January 14, 2022

Making America a Better Place for All: Sustainable Development Recommendations for the Biden Administration

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an important normative framework the U.S. should use to improve human quality of life, freedom, and opportunity. See what 22 experts say about steps the Biden-Harris Administration should take now to…

By John Dernbach • April 15, 2021

Can Traditional Trust Law Help Protect the Environment?

Imagine that the government had the same responsibility for protecting the environment that your banker has for protecting your money.  Could traditional trust law–the law that protects your bank account–strengthen environmental…

By John Dernbach • February 9, 2021

Biden and Trump Positions on Climate Change and Sustainability: Comparison Chart

Students at Widener Commonwealth Law School have created a two-column comparison chart to enable you to quickly compare and contrast the positions of Joe Biden and Donald Trump on a range of sustainability and climate change issues.  The chart is…

By John Dernbach • October 10, 2020

Pennsylvania Supreme Court to Hear Important Environmental Rights Amendment Case in September

Almost 50 years ago, in 1971, Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly approved an Environmental Rights Amendment (ERA) (Article I, Section 27) to the state constitution.  The ERA creates a public trust in “public natural resources, and requires…

By John Dernbach • August 22, 2020

New Website: Model Laws for Deep Decarbonization

April 14–A new Model Laws for Deep Decarbonization in the United States website was launched today to help accelerate a sustainable U.S. transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. It contains hundreds of model laws that can be provided…

By John Dernbach • April 14, 2020

American Bar Association Urges Broad Range of Actions to Reduce U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions “to Net Zero or Below”

The American Bar Association (ABA) has adopted a resolution urging all levels of government as well as the private sector to “to recognize their obligation to address climate change and take action” to “[r]educe U.S. greenhouse gas…

By John Dernbach • August 12, 2019

How Lawyers Can Help Save the Planet

A recurring question for many lawyers is what they can do to address climate change and make a contribution to sustainable development.  One answer is to help turn the recommendations in Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States…

By John Dernbach • July 27, 2019

Legal Pathways Book Arms Policymakers, Lawyers, Private Sector With Tools to Combat Climate Change

  With Democrats and Republicans arguing over the virtues and pitfalls of a Green New Deal, and with President Trump’s latest budget proposal cutting many environment- and energy-related programs, climate change policy in the United States is…

By John Dernbach • April 14, 2019

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