The CT Environmental Rights Amendment would put the fundamental human rights to clean and healthy air, water, and soil and a safe climate into the Connecticut state constitution, just like other fundamental rights such as freedom of speech or freedom of religion. A broad alliance, including the Sierra Club Connecticut, has been working to pass this amendment to our state constitution, and we expect to bring it to the Connecticut General Assembly again next year. 

 

The CT Environmental Rights Amendment is part of the national movement for Green Amendments to state constitutions. This movement got started when a Green Amendment in Pennsylvania was used to overturn an egregious pro-fracking law in that state that would have required all municipalities to allow oil and gas drilling in every zoning district, only 750 feet from homes or schools, and also eliminated many other environmental and health protections. 

 

A similar provision in the Montana state constitution made it possible for the young people in that state to establish their right to a stable climate and overturned a state law that had exempted fossil fuel operations from environmental review for their greenhouse gas emissions.

 

When the CT Environmental Rights Amendment passes in our state, it will strengthen the ability of the people to advocate, and if necessary litigate, for their environmental rights even when the state is polluting the environment directly (as in the Capitol Area System) or is giving permits to polluters harming human health and the environment.

 

If you would like to get involved in putting your right to a healthy environment and climate into the Connecticut constitution, join us on Monday, November 10, from 10 a.m. to noon. We will have Maya van Rossum, the national leader of the movement for Green Amendments, joining us in person! You can come in person at the Atlantic Works Conference Center, 57 Charter Oak Avenue in Hartford, or you can join online by Zoom. Whether you are coming online or in person, please register here.

 

Kim Stoner is a member of the Sierra Club Connecticut Legislative Committee, Director of Advocacy for CT NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) and Coordinator for CT Environmental Rights Amendment Alliance.