Our Story

Earthjustice uses the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change.

It all started in the fight to save a wild and beautiful mountain valley from becoming the world’s largest ski resort. We won, fueled by the passion of our founding attorneys for preserving the wild—a goal that’s as strong today as it was then.

“Earthjustice was created by a small group of attorneys with a passionate belief that the power of the law could be used to preserve the environment. They helped establish the right of citizens to go to court to enforce environmental laws when the government couldn’t or wouldn’t.”– Trip Van Noppen, Earthjustice President

Today’s environmental challenges are greater than ever. But we live in a country of strong environmental laws—and Earthjustice holds those who break these laws accountable for their actions. As the nation’s original and largest nonprofit environmental law organization, we leverage our expertise and commitment to fight for justice and create lasting change.

“The difference between us and our opponents is that what we are doing is morally right. And we’re doing it for the public at large.”– David Guest, Earthjustice Managing Attorney, Florida office

Earthjustice pursues three key goals to secure a just and flourishing world:

• Preserving the Wild
• Fighting for Healthy Communities
• Advancing Clean Energy and a Healthy Climate

We bring cases with the biggest impact, setting precedents for generations to come. Our decades of success are thanks to strong partnerships with many hundreds of organizations and hundreds of thousands of passionate supporters. Of course, winning a case is only part of the battle. Our litigation is strengthened by policy and communications teams working with decision-makers in D.C. and within the court of public opinion to sustain our legal victories.