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Our vision
Our legislative priorities are centered around the fundamental idea that the environment is not merely a resource but a vital part of our shared existence.
At Standing for Washington, we believe that nature deserves constitutional protection. Our mission is to secure legal rights for nature through groundbreaking legislative action, ensuring that future generations inherit a thriving, resilient Washington.
Standing for Nature Constitutional Amendment
While we actively support beneficial environmental legislation, Standing for Washington recognizes the limitations of relying solely on bills. Laws can be changed or repealed, leaving our natural world vulnerable.
Therefore, Standing for Washington’s ultimate goal is to secure a “Standing for Nature” amendment to the Washington State Constitution. This amendment would grant legal rights to ecosystems, allowing them to be represented in court.
Nature can’t wait anymore. It’s time to acknowledge nature’s inherent value and ensure its protection for generations to come.
Why a constitutional amendment
- Long-term Protection: An amendment offers a more permanent safeguard for nature than legislation. It would be much harder to weaken or overturn the rights enshrined in the constitution.
- Legal Accountability: Gives communities and advocates the tools to challenge harmful practices.
- Empowering Nature: A Rights of Nature amendment would give a voice to the natural world, ensuring its interests are considered in legal proceedings.
- Shifting the Paradigm: This amendment would mark a significant shift in how we view nature, recognizing its inherent value beyond its usefulness to humans.
What's next
We are in the process of reaching out to legislators and stakeholders to craft the ideal Standing for Nature Amendment.
Contact us if you are interested in learning more about how to get involved.
Green Amendment
A Green Amendment would enshrine the right to a clean and healthy environment in Washington’s Constitution. This initiative ensures that every resident has a constitutional right to:
- Clean air and water.
- A stable climate.
- Protection of natural ecosystems.
A Green Amendment would establish environmental protection as an unalienable right, and establish the government’s duty to protect natural resources.
2024 Legislative Session
In the 2024 legislative session, Representative Debra Lekanoff (D-Bow) introduced a “green amendment” to the Washington state legislature. House Joint Resolution (HJR) 4210 did get a public hearingin front of the House Environment & Energy committee, but it did not get a vote so it did not get out of committee.
Standing for Washington was there to testify with a PRO position on this legislation, while noting that we would like to see amendments to include rights of nature language, and the inclusion of private actors, in addition to the government, as those who have a duty to maintain these new rights. Learn more about the importance of including these two issues.
Only 4 people signed in to testify as CON and 2 signed in as OTHER – the remaining 34 people signed in as PRO. Out of the almost 1300 people who wanted to register their opinion without testifying, nearly 58% went toward PRO.
2025 Legislative Session
Rep. Lekanoff intends to introduce the “WA Green Amendment” again this session, which starts on January 13. Read the bill language and learn more about it and how to get involved at the WA Green Amendment website.
Standing for Washington supports the WA Green Amendment which would “a new section to the Washington state Constitution regarding the conservation and protection of the state’s natural resources.” Even though it is not a Standing for Nature amendment, it would still be a monumental step in the urgent fight for nature.
Read more about the difference between “standing for nature” and the language of “green amendments” that gives the right to a clean environment to the citizens, and why Standing for Washington would like to see amendments to the bill to include standing for nature language and the inclusion of the duty of private actors.