New York

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NEW: A New York Green Amendment: Balancing Power and Equity in EJ Communities: a panel discussion moderated by Mike Harrington, Assistant Director, Tishman Environment and Design Center. Panelists Include:

• Maya K. van Rossum, Founder, Green Amendments for the Generations
• Eddie Bautista, Executive Director, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance
• Kate Kurera, Deputy Director, Environmental Advocates NY
• Christine Appah, Senior Staff Attorney, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest Environmental Justice Program

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 New York?

In 2017, Assemblyman Steve Englebright first proposed bill A2064, New York’s Green Amendment. A parallel provision has been proposed in the NY Senate by Senator David Carlucci.While the bill was solidly supported in the Assembly the Senate fell short. But two years later, in 2019, the bill was repurposed and began to advance.

There are currently 47 sponsors on the Assembly version of the bill. The companion Senate bill, S2072 has 21 sponsors. View all the sponsors of the bill here.

On April 9, 2019, Green Amendments For the Generations, key New York lawmakers and a coalition of groups announced plans to push for approval of a Green Amendment Bill by the New York legislature. Watch the press conference here.

As of April 30, 2019 the New York legislators, in both the state Assembly and Senate, voted for first passage of a proposed amendment to the NY State Constitution that would recognize and protect the inalienable right to clean water, clean air and a healthful environment. The vote count was overwhelmingly in support of passage with senators voting for passage 45 to 17 and the Assembly members voting 110-34.  90 organizations have signed on to a letter in support of the first passage.

As of January 12, 2021 the New York State Senate voted 48-14 for second passage of the proposed Green Amendment. The bill must pass in the Assembly this year to allow the proposed amendment to be placed on the New York state ballot for the people to vote upon in November.

While for years there have been provisions discussing various environmental issues in Article XIV, the provisions do not have the high level strength needed to recognize the inherent and indefeasible rights of people to a healthy environment and to provide those rights the same level of protection given to the right to free speech, to freedom of religion and other fundamental rights the people of New York hold dear. But New York is poised to remedy that with its Green Amendment proposal.

Who Are Our NY Partners

Green Amendments For The Generations has been working with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Environmental Advocates NY, and the NY Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club to support constitutional level protection for environmental rights in New York’s constitution.

Catch up on our New York Green Amendment Virtual Events

Our Three Part Webinar Series:

• Part 1: Overview – Watch here!
• Part 2: A Legal Perspective – Watch here!
• Part 3: Taking Action – Watch here!

Actions You Can Take

Write your letter today to urge full support for these environmental rights to be added to the New York constitution.

If you are an organization or business who wants to sign on in support of New York’s Green Amendment, consider signing on to our organization sign on letter.

Resources to help you learn more and spread the word.

Find lots of fact sheets, webinars, and more at our Green Amendments For The Generations resources page.

PRESS

• How Environmental Law Can Protect People, Not Polluters — Interview on Midday WNYC
• Increasing Environmental Protections in New York — Interview with Capital Tonight
• Press Release – First Passage of New York Green Amendment (2019-05-01)
• Press Release – NYS Senate Second Passages of NY Green Amendment

MUNICIPAL RESOLUTIONS

• Village of Interlaken (2019-03-21)
• Town of Ulysses (2019-04-24)
• Warren County (2020-10-14)
• Town of DeWitt (2020-12-7)
• City of Newburgh
• Tompkins County

STATUS DOCUMENTS

• First Passage Organizational Sign on (2019-04)
• Letter to the Editor Template
• Sample Municipal Resolution Language
• Sample Municipal Resolution – Albany County
• Sample Letter of Support – Albany County
• New York Green Amendment FAQ
• New York Green Amendment Printable Petition
• Legislature Sign on Letter (2019-04-09)
• Green Amendment Press Release with EANY (2019-04-09)
• Legislative Discussion of NY Assembly regarding Green Amendment proposal (2018-04-24)
• Response to Business Council Opposition — 4/23/18 Delaware Riverkeeper Network Response and Bus Council Memo
• Assembly Hearing, April 24, 2017
• New York’s Green Amendment Proposal
• An Open Letter to the New York State Legislature

Bill Sponsors