The Oregon Coalition for an Environmental Rights Amendment (OCERA) is working to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November 2026. The amendment would provide the highest level of protection in Oregon’s legal system for every person’s right to a healthy environment, e.g. clean air and water. It would allow the people to hold the government accountable and ensure that our laws and policies support a healthy environment.

This movement is national. Several states already have environmental rights in their constitutions. There are efforts to amend their constitution in more than a dozen states. There have been successful suits in Pennsylvania, Montana and Hawaii.

On June 20, 2024, young climate defenders (mostly Native Hawaiians) reached a groundbreaking legal settlement with the governor of Hawaii. Supervised by the court, Hawaii’s department of Transportation must reach zero emissions in land, sea and inter-island air transportation by 2045. Because transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, this win provides an historic role model for climate action.

Lawyers from Earthjustice (including Native Hawaiian attorneys) and Oregon-based Our Children’s Trust won this victory using rights enshrined in Hawaii’s constitution to “live healthful lives in Hawaii now and into the future.” News about Navahine v. Hawaii DOT, appears in Grist and the UK’s Guardian. 

OCERA’s legal team is circulating a draft of an environmental constitutional amendment for Oregon. We’re honored to have the advice of winning lawyers from Our Children’s Trust.

Why a Constitutional Amendment? 

A state constitution is the state’s highest body of law. It cannot be overridden, and it cannot be amended without the people’s consent. Fundamental rights are housed in constitutions because they are considered so essential to life and liberty that they must be protected from political interference. Because the people’s right to a healthy environment with clean air, clean water and a stable climate is essential to life and liberty, it is a fundamental right that requires constitutional protection.

Having environmental rights in the constitution would break the legislative logjam that is allowing new methane heated houses and buildings to be built and blocking changes to Oregon’s transportation system.

Petition Signings in September

We are planning on having initial signature sheets for the OCERA Constitutional Amendment at the Social Justice table in Hanneman Hall for a few Sundays in September. After we have submitted 2,000 signatures to the Secretary of State, we will work with the Attorney General on getting a ballot title. We hope you will come over and sign the petition. 

Phil Carver