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 -regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or income, including future generations – to pure water, clean air, a stable climate, and healthy environments.
What’s Happening in Kentucky?
Green Amendments For The Generations has been working closely the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL). 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 Josie Raymond (31st LD) to consider such provision for the people of Kentucky.
The current version to be proposed would amend section 1 (the bill of rights) of the Kentucky state constitution to add “Eighth: The right to a healthy environment, including a right to clean air, pure water, and ecologically healthy habitats. The Commonwealth’s natural resources, among them its air, water, fauna, climate, and public lands, are the common property of all people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of the environment and its natural resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people.“
We will continue to work with NCEL and Representative Raymond to educate legislators, organizations and community members on the environmental rights of the people of Kentucky.
Learn about the process to amend the Kentucky Constitution here. More Kentucky specific resources and petition coming soon.
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