Ensuring a clean future with the Green Amendment in Nebraska

By Scout Nelson

At the recent Nebraska Youth Climate Summit, around 200 high school and college students gathered to discuss the idea of adding a "Green Amendment" to the Nebraska state constitution.

This amendment would ensure the right to a clean and healthy environment for all citizens, similar to provisions already in place in states like Montana, Pennsylvania, and New York.

The Green Amendment movement is gaining traction across the United States, with a national organization pushing for such amendments in every state. These amendments provide a legal tool for citizens to hold their governments accountable for protecting the environment.

In states where they exist, Green Amendments have allowed residents to challenge the government on environmental issues like safe drinking water, clean air, and reducing harmful emissions.

For instance, in Pennsylvania and Montana, citizens have used these amendments to argue that their state governments were not doing enough to address environmental concerns, such as greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.

At the Nebraska summit, the focus was on whether the state should adopt a similar amendment to protect its environment. Proponents argue that the Green Amendment could be useful in addressing local environmental challenges, like opposing pipelines or restricting the use of single-use plastic bags.

They believe such an amendment would empower citizens to take legal action when their environmental rights are at risk.

Efforts are already underway to introduce the idea in Nebraska’s Legislature. Although it is uncertain whether the Legislature will move forward with a constitutional amendment, even proposing it would open the door to public discussions and potentially help refine the language for a future ballot initiative.

Organizers are considering a petition drive to place the amendment on the state ballot in 2026.

A draft of the proposed Green Amendment has been designed with Nebraska’s agricultural community in mind, aiming to address potential concerns from farm groups.

Advocates of the amendment believe that, despite expected opposition, this initiative could mirror the success of past progressive ballot measures in the state, such as those that raised the minimum wage and expanded Medicaid.

Photo Credit: gettyimage-jamesbrey