Updated environmental policy at odds with Trump agenda

(The Center Square) – Despite the subject being in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, Pennsylvania has doubled down on its environmental justice efforts with a final policy launched Saturday.

The policy will guide the Department of Environmental Protection in projects relating to environmental justice, a concept rooted in principals of diversity, equity and inclusion.

The new policy concerns “the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, wealth, race, color, national origin, area of residence, Tribal affiliation, or disability” protecting them from risks that have been frequently dismissed by the Trump administration, including “disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects… related to climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of racism or other structural or systemic barriers.”

By contrast, an April 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump directs the attorney general to “prioritiz...