Oregon Coalition for an
Environmental Rights Amendment
The People's Right to a Healthy Environment
Clean Air. Clean Water. Livable Conditions.
We owe it to ourselves, our children, and future generations to ensure the government protects our natural resources and stops environmental harm to our public health and safety.
We need an enforceable right to a healthy environment to secure a sustainable, prosperous future, so join the effort and help amend our state constitution to draw a clear and necessary line in the sand.
The Amendment
(Note: This language may change a bit in the near future, but the scope of effects will be the same. Please contact us with any questions!)
(1) All people, including children and future generations, have the inherent fundamental right to a clean, safe, and healthy environment, including but not limited to clean air, clean water, thriving ecosystems, and a stable climate system. This right shall not be abridged unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the means least restrictive of the right.
(2) All of Oregon’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources with affirmative fiduciary obligations, the State shall conserve and maintain them against substantial impairment for the benefit of all people.
(3) Any person may obtain declaratory or equitable relief against state action or inaction allowing harm or the threat of harm to public safety or health to enforce the rights and duties guaranteed under this section. Prevailing parties securing protection of rights or enforcement of duties under this section shall be entitled to costs of litigation, including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees. The rights and duties guaranteed herein are self-executing and enforceable upon enactment, without implementing legislation or exhaustion of other remedies.
Restore Balance
Why Do We Need This?
1) To protect Oregon's natural resources from federal attacks.
No matter what any administration does to roll back protections or incentivize pollution or destruction of Oregon's natural resources, a clear, constitutional standard will be a powerful legal force of protection, especially for our old growth forests, waterways, and groundwater. It also helps our state stay on track toward a sustainable future.
2) To draw the line in the sand to protect public health & safety.
You might think that "Oregon is so beautiful! Don't we have enough environmental protections? Why should we mess with the state constitution if we don't need to?" That's what most of us thought, too, until we learned about the truth of things.
(Note: The views and opinions expressed in these linked articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of OCERA.)
Did you know that, according to the 2025 US News & World Report:
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Oregon is DEAD LAST (#50 out of 50 states) in the nation for "pollution health risks"?
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Oregon is #46 out of 50 states for "pollution"?
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Oregon is #44 out of 50 states for "the natural environment"?
(Note: "Pollution from agriculture, transportation and small facilities...is not included.")
Did you know, that according to OPB's coverage:
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"Oregon's nitrate ground pollution became notably WORSE in the past 10 years, report finds" (2025)
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"Groundwater pollution puts drinking water at risk in Eastern Oregon counties" (2022)
Did you know that, according to Oregon Capital Chronicle's coverage:
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"Amid drought, Oregon's new water 'strategy' is light on strategy; As wells run dry, the state says it needs more time and money to crunch numbers." (2024)
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"Oregon has the most polluted or 'impaired' waterways nationwide, new analysis says" (2022)
WE CAN and SHOULD DO BETTER.
Especially for our kids and grandkids.
How You Can Help
Whether you'd like to join a leadership team to help shape this movement, or you only have time to receive occasional email updates about upcoming events and opportunities, the MOST IMPORTANT THING to do is CONNECT!
1 - Be sure to subscribe (below) to join our mailing list.
2 - Check out just how you can support from wherever you are:
