What is a Green Amendment?
Green Amendments are self executing provisions added to the bill of rights section of a constitution that recognize and protect the rights of all people, including future generations, to pure water, clean air, a stable climate, and healthy environments.
What’s happening in Washington?
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Activists, a growing group of Washington State organizations and Green Amendments For The Generations have been working to spread the word about the values of having a Washington Green Amendment. Currently efforts are focused on building a grassroots coalition of advocates and leaders seeking to secure this highest level of constitutional protection for environmental rights and environmental justice in the state of Washington.
The Washington Green Amendment to be re-proposed in 2025 will read:
Article I of the Constitution of the state of Washington shall be amended by adding a new section to read:
Article I, section . . .. (1) The people of the state, including future generations, have the right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, healthy ecosystems, and a stable climate, and to the preservation of the natural, cultural, scenic, and healthful qualities of the environment.
(2) The state, including each political subdivision of the state, shall serve as trustee of the natural resources of the state, among them its waters, air, flora, fauna, soils, and climate. The state, including each political subdivision of the state, shall conserve, protect, and maintain these resources for the benefit of current and future generations.
(3) The provisions of this section are self-executing.
Not sure what the Green Amendment will do or what to think about it, view Fact Sheets, FAQs, Webinars, Education Guides and more on our resources page.
To learn a little history about how we got here in Washington State:
Green Amendments For The Generations has been working closely with the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) to advance this nationwide movement. GAFTG Founder Maya van Rossum presented at NCEL’s 2019 annual conference to over 150 legislators, educating them on the value and power of a Green Amendment. This presentation inspired Representative Debra Lekanoff to consider such a provision for the people of Washington and begin working with GAFTG in close partnership to launch a WA Green Amendment Movement.
On February 9, 2021 Representative Lekanoff first introduced an amendment to the state constitution, enshrining the rights of all Washingtonians to clean water and air, a stable climate and healthy environment. The proposed amendment received a well attended hearing in the House Environment & Energy Committee. One year later, the amendment was re-proposed in 2022 and once again secured a meaningful hearing in the House Committee on Environment & Energy during which the amendment received robust support. You can view the hearing here. The amendment did not advance for a vote of the Committee but progress in support of this powerful protection has continued to grow. The amendment was re-proposed in 2024 and had another great hearing with some great testimony and dialogue. While the amendment again did not progress further, the foundation of support is growing.
Washington grassroots leaders and volunteers continue to build a growing collaboration of understanding and support for advancing constitutional environmental rights in the Washington state in the form of the Washington Green Amendment.
Want to sign your organization on in support? You can do so here.
Are you an individual that wants to join the movement? You can do so here.
