The DFL Environmental Caucus encourages delegates to support the following resolutions that will move Minnesota forward on climate action, clean water, healthy communities, wildlife protection, and other areas of environmental progress.
Underlined resolutions are those put forward by the DFLEC this year. Other resolutions were put forward by different groups but have our support
10. Regional Food Systems
Supports the development of regional food systems that provide nourishing foods, investments in small business development, food processing infrastructure such as small- scale meat processing, and marketing of goods and specialty crops that have environmental and economic benefits.
11. Regenerative Agricultural Support
Supports direct financial support to farmers, research, technical assistance and education to rapidly implement a regenerative food and farming system that fosters successful small and mid sized farms and rural and urban communities. This includes establishing perennial crops, rotational grazing and small scale livestock systems, cover crops, and no-till farming.
12. CO2 Pipeline Ban
Opposes CO2 pipeline construction and operation in rural Minnesota.
13. Source Separated Organics
Supports the development of community based “source-separated organics” (SSO) waste programs to allow diversion of organic wastes from landfills toward productive uses and to conserve landfill space.
14. Soil Health
Supports establishing and fully investing in a comprehensive soil health program that provides accessible grants and direct payments to farmers to implement and sustain soil- healthy practices, and that provides education, technical assistance, and research.
16. Nitrate Contamination in Groundwater
Supports the revision of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) feedlot rules to address nitrate contamination in groundwater, caused by poor animal management practices contributing to unsafe water quality in greater Minnesota. We support holding large-scale livestock operations accountable for pollution’s cost to the environment and communities.
17. Pollinator Habitat Protection
Supports comprehensive measures to safeguard pollinators such as the implementation of pollinator-friendly agricultural practices, recognizing the vital role these species play in crop pollination and sustaining our food supply and ecosystem health.
20. Green New Deal
Supports a Green New Deal to rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions and provide an equitable energy future, renewable electricity, affordable housing, multi-modal transportation options, and clean energy jobs.
21. No Lead in Drinking Water
Supports ensuring safe drinking water in all Minnesota homes by mapping and replacing all lead water pipes by 2033.
23. Energy Infrastructure
Supports policies for all housing initiatives to utilize more efficient mechanical building systems, intelligent sensors for lighting and climate control, low-flow plumbing fixtures, heat pumps, and solar arrays.
24. Job Training Clean Energy
Supports the development and implementation of clean energy job training, mentorship, and job placement programs for people with limited resources.
25. Automated Solar Permitting Process (APP+)
Urges the MN Legislature to pass the Solar APP+ (Automated Permitting Process) bill to provide financial incentives for cities that want to expand solar by improving permitting using Solar APP+.
27. Utility Accountability
Supports legislation, like the Utility Accountability Bill, to increase transparency in the private management of public infrastructure, and to prohibit the use of customer funds, directly or indirectly, for political influence campaigns.
28. Reduce or Eliminate Use of Unsafe Neonicotinoid Pesticides
Supports policies to reduce or eliminate the use of unsafe pesticides (e.g., glyphosate, neonicotinoids, chlorpyrifos) in agriculture and recreational land or lawns; require businesses selling plants disclose if their plants have been treated with neonicotinoids; and urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to prohibit neonicotinoid use.
29. Ban Toxic and Carcinogenic Substances
Supports banning toxic and known carcinogens (cancer causing), endocrine disrupting and neuro-toxicants in consumer goods beginning on January 1, 2026.
30. Oppose Efforts to Weaken or Circumvent Environmental Laws
Opposes any effort to weaken or circumvent or evade state or federal environmental laws or protections involving administrative procedures and permitting regarding environmental regulation and support protections.
31. Extend Producer Responsibility, Reduce and Prohibit Plastics in Packaging
Supports extended producer responsibility for plastic, requiring producers to collect 70% of the plastic packaging they generate within five years, and reduce the plastic packaging they produce by 50% within ten years. Prohibit all toxic substances and materials in plastic packaging, and ban or significantly reduce single-use plastics.
32. Conserve, Manage and Protect Aquifers
Supports new groundwater laws, regional management, and state oversight of aquifers to assure that conservation measures are followed, surface waters are protected, and future demand does not exceed the aquifer’s capacity for recharge amid climate change and regional population growth.
33. Prohibit Lead Ammunition and Fishing Tackle
Supports the prohibition of lead ammunition and fishing tackle.
34. Accelerate Protection and Restoration of Forests, Prairies and Wetlands
Supports accelerated action to protect, restore, and improve management of forests, prairies, and wetlands to fight climate change and preserve natural places for people and wildlife.
35. Protect Public Land from Offroad Vehicles/ATV Impacts
Supports protecting and preserving habitat and waters on public lands from off road/all terrain vehicle (ATV) impacts, with adequate buffer zones, environmental assessments, and limiting access to signed trails only.
36. Copper Nickel Sulfide Mining
Supports the Minnesota Legislature holding hearings on the proposed Prove It First legislation, and supports withholding all permits for copper nickel sulfide mines in Minnesota until it can first be proven that such mines can be operated safely in our water rich environment and not violate state, federal, and tribal water quality standards.
40. Sustainable Transportation
Supports development of sustainable transportation in all areas of the state, including safe pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, mass transit improvements, streetcars, commuter rail, light rail, buses, charging stations for electric vehicles, and reduction of air travel emissions.
41. Metro Mobility
Supports expanding access to affordable, convenient public transportation, including Metro Mobility.
42. Safe Water Quality
Supports policies that ensure access to clean and accessible drinking water for all Minnesotans.
43. E-Waste
Supports providing free collection of electronic waste for all Minnesotans to increase the electronic waste recycling rate, conserve precious metals, and keep these materials out of traditional waste disposal streams.
44. Right to Repair Laws
Supports right-to-repair laws that protect the ability of consumers and third parties to repair consumer electronics and agricultural equipment.
44. Recycling Container Deposit
Supports legislation that requires beverage producers to include a deposit amount on all containers that is charged at the time of purchase and refunded upon return. Additionally, returned containers must be reused, or recycled, and beverage producers must fund take-back depots and other infrastructure to collect, recycle, or reuse beverage containers.
54. Calculate Climate Impact
Supports legislation mandating the calculation of net climate impacts including external and social costs of carbon emissions. This would result in denying funding or permits for high-impact projects and incentivize those with significantly reduced carbon footprints.
55. Declare Climate Emergency
Supports declaring a climate change emergency, and support a vigorous, multi-pronged approach including energy conservation, air pollution controls, building resilience, and promotion of clean resources.
56. Moratorium on Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
Supports both prohibiting the future development of fossil fuel infrastructure that significantly increases net greenhouse gas emissions, and transitioning us from existing fossil-fuel uses as quickly as possible.
57. State Board of Investment-Wide Range of Risks
Supports legislation that authorizes the MN State Board of Investment to include social, climate, fossil fuel holdings, and other environmental risks, when making investment decisions for Minnesota’s civil servants and educators.
61. Pollution Control Agency Citizens Board
Supports the re-establishment of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens’ Board to its full capacity and authority so that Minnesotans are represented in major environmental decision making.
83. Manoomin/Psíŋ Rights, (wild rice)
Recognizes that Manoomin/Psiŋ (wild rice) is sacred and central to the culture and health of indigenous peoples in Minnesota and critical to the health and identity of all Minnesota citizens and ecosystems, and that it deserves protections from climate change, invasive species, pollution, and destructive development.
104. Indigenous Treaty Rights
Supports the state of Minnesota upholding all of our treaties with Indigenous Minnesota tribes, including those involving manoomin (wild rice). These treaties are defined as the “supreme law of the land” under the U.S. Constitution. Failure to uphold treaties is considered a violation of human rights under international law.