The Delaware Declaration

Today we stand on the banks of the Delaware River —

a river known for courage,

crossing,

and revolution —

a truly American river.

As we stand here, let us take a moment to remember our duty to the living world, and to the generations who will follow us.

Every child,

every community,

every species on Earth,

deserves

clean water,

fresh air,

fertile soils,

healthy forests,

and a stable climate.

These are not luxuries. They are birthrights.

Yet our nation’s Constitution does not speak to these rights.

When our nation’s founders met in Philadelphia long ago, they could never have imagined the scale of destruction we now face:

polluted rivers,

freakish heatwaves,

extreme storms,

unraveling ecosystems,

and a destabilizing climate.

We can imagine those things—because we are living through them.

And it is time we spoke up.

I am proposing a U.S. Constitutional Amendment that protects:

• The right to a safe and stable climate;

• The right of nature to thrive and regenerate;

• The right of future generations to inherit a livable world.

This amendment is also a promise —

to the living world,

to our children,

and to the generations to come:

We will no longer sacrifice tomorrow for the comforts of today.

This is not some athletic feat, or an abstract academic exercise.

This is a reminder,

an act of protection,

an aspiration.

This is a swim toward a future we still have time to reach.

—Christopher Swain, delivered beside the Delaware River in Philadelphia, September 17, 2025.