SCCF and partners advocate for Right to Clean Water
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis brought the Right to Clean Water amendment petition before the Sanibel City Council at its April 12 meeting.
With partners from the Lee County Climate Reality Project and “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge, he asked the council to consider passing a resolution in support for the petition, which seeks to add a fundamental right to clean water to the Florida Constitution. The amendment would allow citizens to sue state agencies that are tasked with protecting Florida waters when they are not fulfilling their legal obligations.
“Currently, there is no enforcement mechanism to hold these agencies accountable,” DePaolis said. “This speaks to what the people have said, what our leaders have said, and what we as Floridians know is so important about having clean water in this state. Our state agencies have a legal duty to protect Florida waters, and Floridians should be able to hold them accountable if they are letting our natural resource be impaired.”
If the petition gains the required number of signatures, the amendment will be placed on the 2024 ballot, allowing Floridians to decide if they would like to codify it into the Florida Constitution.
For more information or to sign the petition, visit floridarighttocleanwater.org.
To reach SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, please email