Maya K. van Rossum and the Washington Green Amendment campaign organizers just completed a tour of the state. Maya, the founder of the national Green Amendments for the Generations movement, and David Kipnis, the chief organizer of our local grassroots group, visited six cities and spoke to a diversity of people including business people, ranchers, environmentalists, climate activists, among others. The movement seeks to pass a Green Amendment to our state constitution that will place our right to clean air and water, a stable climate and a livable environment alongside our right to free speech and assembly, due process, the right to bear arms etc. That is, they will be raised to the highest legal standard.
The tour kicked off in Seattle with a fundraiser/education event that was interesting and fun. Maya delivered a rousing talk preceded by music from Jim Page, a long time Seattle activist and singer/songwriter, and followed by a Q & A session, trivia game, and conversation.
The tour proceeded to Olympia, Vancouver, Yakima, Richland and Spokane. Attendees were interested and engaged and raised challenging issues about how a constitutional Green Amendment would affect their work and livelihoods.
Passing a Green Amendment into our state constitution requires a two-thirds “yes” vote from both the Senate and House followed by a majority vote in the general election. We hope to find a legislative sponsor to introduce a resolution during the 2026 session. We have been told previously by legislators around the state that they need to hear from constituents that a GA is not only important and beneficial, but also necessary.
Now that the tour is over, we are entering the next phase of the campaign. We are asking supporters to reach out to their state legislators. Shortly we will provide a template letter to use and personalize. The fall is the best time to contact legislators when they are gearing up for the new session.
Look for the template letter on the website forthegenerations.org or in next month’s newsletter.
What is the 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, including future generations, to pure water, clean air, a stable climate, and healthy environments.
Activists, a growing group of Washington State organizations and Green Amendments For The Generations have been working to spread the word about the values of having a Washington Green Amendment. Currently efforts are focused on building a grassroots coalition of advocates and leaders seeking to secure this highest level of constitutional protection for environmental rights and environmental justice in the state of Washington.
The Washington Green Amendment to be re-proposed in 2025 will read:
Article I of the Constitution of the state of Washington shall be amended by adding a new section to read:
Article I, section . . .. (1) The people of the state, including future generations, have the right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, healthy ecosystems, and a stable climate, and to the preservation of the natural, cultural, scenic, and healthful qualities of the environment.
(2) The state, including each political subdivision of the state, shall serve as trustee of the natural resources of the state, among them its waters, air, flora, fauna, soils, and climate. The state, including each political subdivision of the state, shall conserve, protect, and maintain these resources for the benefit of current and future generations.
(3) The provisions of this section are self-executing.
Learn more about the Washington Green Amendment Here.
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