Regardless of where you fall in terms of religion and politics, the buzz surrounding Pope Francis’ new encyclical on the environment is certainly interesting. Those who are familiar with the Catholic Church’s teaching on the issue know that concern for the environment has become an increasingly important message, even if that concern has been voiced by previous popes and has been around for years.
For those who haven’t had the chance to read through the encyclical, TIME offers a brief synopsis of the major points. These points are: that climate change is a fact and that it is becoming worse; that the human population does have a significant impact on climate change; that governments and lawmakers have a responsibility to address the situation; and that climate change affects developing nations disproportionately. You may or may not agree with these points, but very few will disagree with the effort to bring increased awareness to environmental responsibility.
As environmental law attorneys, we have a heightened awareness of the need for businesses, individuals, and governments to take responsibility for complying with environmental laws and reducing their environmental impact. We are dedicated to helping our clients protect their rights and interests with respect to a variety of environmental issues.
Whether the issue is water or air quality, reducing sedimentation and flooding, addressing the environmental impact of business and real estate development, or holding offending parties responsible for toxic torts and chemical exposure, working with an experienced environmental law attorney is important, not only for guidance on the law, but also for advocacy and assistance navigating the legal and administrative systems.