Connecticut General Statutes
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-1 (2026)
Policy of the state
✓ current as of May 2026
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The General Assembly finds that the growing population and expanding economy of the state have had a profound impact on the life-sustaining natural environment. The air, water, land and other natural resources, taken for granted since the settlement of the state, are now recognized as finite and precious. It is now understood that human activity must be guided by and in harmony with the system of relationships among the elements of nature. Therefore the General Assembly hereby declares that the policy of the state of Connecticut is to conserve, improve and protect its natural resources and environment and to control air, land and water pollution in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state. It shall further be the policy of the state to improve and coordinate the environmental plans, functions, powers and programs of the state, in cooperation with the federal government, regions, local governments, other public and private organizations and concerned individuals, and to manage the basic resources of air, land and water to the end that the state may fulfill its responsibility as trustee of the environment for the present and future generations.
(1971, P.A. 872, S. 1.)
Cited. 184 C. 51; 204 C. 38; Id., 212; 212 C. 727; 227 C. 71; Id., 175; 235 C. 448.
Cited. 12 CA 47; 41 CA 120.
State's alleged failure to conduct an environmental impact evaluation prior to transfer is not a per se violation of statute that would grant plaintiffs standing under Sec. 22a-16. 51 CS 590.
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1981–2023 · leading case: Connecticut Energy Marketers Assn. v. Dept. of Energy & Env't Prot., 152 A.3d 509 (Conn. 2016).
Connecticut Energy Marketers Assn. v. Dept. of Energy & Env't Prot., 152 A.3d 509 (Conn. 2016). “’’ The court further held that ‘‘[b]ecause approval of the [comprehensive energy strategy] is not an action which may significantly affect the environment, as that phrase is defined in [General Statutes] §§ 22a-1b (c) and 22a-1c, the plaintiff has failed to state a claim under…”
Smith v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals of the Town of Greenwich, 629 A.2d 1089 (Conn. 1993). “The Environmental Protection Act (EPA); General Statutes § 22a-1 et seq.; includes the environment as a facet of public health and safety.”
Paige v. Town Plan & Zoning Comm'n, 668 A.2d 340 (Conn. 1995). “The plaintiffs argue that the narrow and restrictive definition of natural resources settled on by the Appellate Court is in derogation of the Environmental Protection Act (act); General Statutes § 22a-1 et seq.; and the applicable Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies…”
Fort Trumbull Conservancy, LLC v. Alves, 815 A.2d 1188 (Conn. 2003). “The mere fact that the narrow, exclusive construction that the dissent has chosen to impose on the plaintiffs allegations—which exclusive construction the plaintiff specifically disclaimed in its brief and at oral argument—may be noncognizable under § 22a-16—an issue that, we…”
Connecticut Ex Rel. Tong v. Exxon Mobil Corp., 83 F.4th 122 (2d Cir. 2023). “App’x at 46 ¶¶ 189–90 (quoting Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-1); (2) were inherently “immoral, unethical, oppressive[,] and/or unscrupulous,” id.”
Comm'r of Env't Prot. v. Connecticut Bldg. Wrecking Co., 629 A.2d 1116 (Conn. 1993). “In light of this emphatic statement of the importance of protecting wetlands, we conclude that the legislature intended a broad definition of “continuing violation” and, accordingly, that that phrase, as used in § 22a-35, may include the illegal depositing of debris in a wetland…”
Red Hill Coalition, Inc. v. Town Plan & Zoning Comm'n, 563 A.2d 1347 (Conn. 1989). “For example, the Agricultural Protection Act; General Statutes §§ 22-26aa through 22-26Ü; and General Statutes § 12-107a, which affords owners of farmland a form of tax relief, both recognize the importance of farm and agricultural land and make special provisions to protect it.”
Bingham v. Dep't of Pub. Works, 945 A.2d 927 (Conn. 2008). “The plaintiffs appeal from the judgment of the trial court dismissing their administrative appeal brought pursuant to General Statutes § 4-183 1 from a declaratory ruling of the commissioner of public works (commissioner) that the provisions of the state Environmental Policy…”
Metro. Dist. Comm'n v. Local 184, Council 4, 825 A.2d 218 (Conn. App. Ct. 2003). “In its brief, the plaintiff argued that the award reinstating Rodriguez violated at least two explicit mandates of public policy, namely: (1) the public policy of protecting the environment to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state, as set forth in…”
Manchester Env't Coalition v. Stockton, 441 A.2d 68 (Conn. 1981). “It merely corrects noncompliance with the provisions of §§ 22a-1 through 22a-1f. There is error in part, the judgment is affirmed except as to the issues raised pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act, and as to those issues only, a new trial is ordered.”
City of Shelton v. Comm'r, 479 A.2d 208 (Conn. 1984). “The general assembly directs that, to the fullest extent possible: “(a) Each state department, institution or agency shall review its policies and practices to insure that they are consistent with the state’s environmental policy as set forth in section 22a-1 and 22a-1a. “(b)…”
State v. Ball, 796 A.2d 542 (Conn. 2002). “” General Statutes § 22a-1. The state presented evidence to the trial court that state parks and forests are an important part of the state’s conservation responsibilities.”
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