Town hall meetings focused on constitutional environmental rights were held in Mansfield Center, Stamford and Middletown throughout February.
The town hall meetings were organized by Green Amendments For The Generations (GAFTG) and the organization’s founder, Maya K. van Rossum. The events were also attended by other local activist groups including the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA), The League of Women Voters in Connecticut (LWVCT) and others.
The Mansfield town hall meeting was held at the Mansfield Public Library on Monday, Feb. 3 with State Rep. Gregory Haddad and State Sen. Mae Flexer in attendance.
The Stamford town hall meeting was held at the Stamford Government Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10 and was attended by Rep. Matt Blumenthal, Sen. Pat Billie Miller and other state municipal leaders.
The Middletown town hall meeting was held at the DeKoven Center on Feb. 11.
In a press release, NOFA reported that over 95 Connecticut residents attended across the three event days, and that “conversations at the events highlighted concerns over increasing extreme weather events, water pollution and threats to public health and the need for proactive legal tools to protect communities from environmental harm.”
“The level of turnout and engagement at every one of our town hall events for the Connecticut Environmental Rights Amendment has demonstrated that people are looking for solutions when it comes to environmental protection,” said Maya K. van Rossum, founder of GAFTG. “People are recognizing that pollution is damaging the water, air, climate and environments that communities need to not just survive, but to thrive, and they are tired of piecemeal legislative solutions that are not solving the problem.”
GAFTG’s official mission statement “is to ensure every person and community across the United States is able to experience the health, quality of life, education, joy and economic prosperity provided by a clean, safe and healthy environment”
“The proposed green amendment would outline the right of all residents to clean air, water and a healthy environment.” NOFA said in a press release. “Green Amendments have already been successfully adopted in Pennsylvania, Montana, and New York, and have provided strong legal frameworks to prevent environmental harm and hold decision-makers accountable”
GAFTG and green amendment supporters urge Attorney General William Tong to support the amendment and help bring it forward for a vote during the 2026 Connecticut senatorial session.
“Every Connecticut resident has an inalienable right to live in a safe and healthy environment, including clean water, air, and soil, and a stable climate,” said Blumenthal. “Enshrining that right in our state Constitution will ensure Connecticut’s long-term dedication to environmental health and safety, and that every Connecticut resident, in every community — including farmers, hunters, outdoors-people, and others — can trust we will preserve the environment for this generation and the ones to follow. I’m committed to working with advocates, stakeholders and our state Attorney General to protect these rights in perpetuity by amending the state Constitution”
Patricia Rossi, the co-president of LWVCT, said a safe climate is “necessary to human health.”
“The League of Women Voters fully supports the Environmental Rights Amendment which would ensure these fundamental human rights for all Connecticut residents,” Rossi said.
More information about the Connecticut Environmental Rights amendment and similar amendments is available at ctgreenamendment.org.