A Green Amendment for New Jersey: Securing our right to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment

by Lynn Robbins

You’re invited to join Delaware Riverkeeper Maya K. van Rossum and the Sustainable Ewing Green Team to learn about the Green Amendment movement taking place in New Jersey and across the nation.

This online event takes place Wednesday, October 28, 7 p.m. and all Ewing residents are invited to join using the Zoom meeting information at the bottom of this post.

A green amendment recognizes that citizens have an inalienable right to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. As a constitutional provision, it protects these rights in the same way it protects other fundamental rights like free speech and the freedom of religion.

The New Jersey State Assembly and Senate have passed concurrent proposals to add a green amendment to the state constitution (ACR80/SCR30). The states of Delaware, New York, Maryland, and West Virginia have also proposed environmental amendments. Two states, Pennsylvania and Montana, have already added amendments to their constitutions.

Van Rossum advocates for constitutional amendments because they redress the inadequacies of laws that are on the books today. “Our current laws are more focused on managing and permitting pollution and land degradation rather than preventing it,” van Rossum says.

At the October 28 event, van Rossum will share developments taking place in the news and behind the scenes today and will briefly discuss events that helped evolve the movement since its early days dating back to 1971. We will discuss the role Ewing Township and other municipalities and organizations can play in this effort by passing resolutions in support of a state amendment.

The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session. All attendees are invited to participate.