Oregon advocates push to add environmental rights to the state constitution
Mel Martin from OCERA and Alan Journet, SOCAN, appeared on the Jefferson Exchange, Wednesday March 16th 2026
Many Oregonians may assume they have a right to clean air and water, but that right is not explicitly guaranteed in the state constitution.
Mel Martin, campaign coordinator for the Oregon Coalition for an Environmental Rights Amendment, said the current regulatory system is “overly responsive to big money interests” and prioritizes short-term economic gains over long-term public health.
Without a constitutional amendment, environmental protections rely on existing laws and regulations, which can change over time.
Alan Journet, co-facilitator of Southern Oregon Climate Action Now, said lack of protection leaves the state ill-equipped to handle rising climate-related challenges, including what he described as a regional “fire deficit,” or a buildup of vegetation due to past fire suppression and changing climate conditions.
“We’re getting conditions year after year where fire is almost inevitable,” Journet said