New Jersey

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On October 15, 2018, a bipartisan supermajority of the Senate Environment Committee today passed SCR134, the proposal to amend the New Jersey Constitution’s Declaration of Rights to include environmental rights. The bill, proposed by Senator Linda Greenstein (D-14) as prime and Senator Kip Bateman (R-16) as co-prime, would amend Article 1 of the state constitution to recognize that “Every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment….”, that the State has a duty to serve as trustee of the state’s natural resources, and must conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people. View the video here.  The proposed  New Jersey Green Amendment would ensure that the right to clean water, clean air and a healthy environment will be protected as firmly as other essential rights are protected, like the right to free speech, freedom of religion and private property rights.

As proposed the New Jersey environmental rights amendment would read as follows:

(a)  Every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, and ecologically healthy habitats, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic qualities of the environment.  The State shall not infringe upon these rights, by action or inaction.

(b)  The State’s public natural resources, among them its waters, air, flora, fauna, climate, and public lands, are the common property of all the people, including both present and future generations.  The State shall serve as trustee of these resources, and shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people.

(c)  This paragraph and the rights stated herein are (1) self-executing, and (2) shall be in addition to any rights conferred by the public trust doctrine or common law.

On the Senate side we have bi-partisan support. Senator Linda Greenstein (D-14) has led the charge and been joined by Senator Kip Bateman (R-16) to advance SCR134.  On October 15, 2018, a Bipartisan supermajority of the Senate Environment Committee passed SCR134.

On the Assembly side Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin is  joined by Assemblyman John McKeon as prime sponsors of ACR 85.  Joining them in sponsoring the bill is Assemblyman Daniel Benson, Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, and Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson.

While we have had a vote on the senate side, there has been no progress on the Assembly side.  The bill is languishing in committee.  We need you to reach out to your Assembly members to urge them to sponsor this bill and press for its forward movement to at least a committee vote.  Please take a moment to send your letter today.

We also need your signature on the petition we will be delivering to every assembly and senate member when the time is right, please sign on and share this link with friends and family: http://bit.ly/ISupportaNJGreenAmendment

Want do to even more?  Take this model resolution to your town leaders  or county freeholders and urge them to pass their own.  Want help making the proposal?  Get in touch and we will schedule a time when Maya van Rossum, founder of this movement and the Delaware Riverkeeper, can join you to make the ask and answer any questions.  Simply email us at forthegenerations@delawareriverkeeper.org.

For The Generations has been working in partnership with our principle, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, as well as Clean Water Action, NJ Highlands Coalition, NJ Sierra, Environment NJ, the American Littoral Society, and a team of committed attorneys from the state to lead the effort.

It is important we continue to build strong support for this proposal.  Every member of the New Jersey legislature should support protecting environmental rights as an inalienable human right.  Send your letter today to your assembly member and senator and urge them to be vocal and active in support.

How and When did this all start in the great state of New Jersey?  

November 30, 2017,  New Jersey Assemblyman Tim Eustace, joined by Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, Assemblywoman Pinkin and Assemblywoman Sumpter, announced new legislation that, if passed, would amend Article 1 of the state constitution to recognize that “Every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment….”, that the State has a duty to serve as trustee of the state’s natural resources, and must conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people.  Since its original proposal there has been significant forward progress.

PRESS REGARDING THE ANNOUNCEMENT