The fact that everyone has the right to live in a healthful environment so they can thrive and be their best selves is (or should be) self-evident. Placing that concept in our state constitution moves that right from moral imperative to a matter of law, which can be daunting for advocates.
But help is here. Who better to answer the pressing questions about environmental human rights amendments than students studying the law in Maryland!
The Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human Rights (MDEHR) partnered with students from the University of Maryland Environmental Law Clinic to answer the most frequent and pressing questions about the environmental human rights amendment. For the next few weeks, MDEHR will be posting questions that we frequently hear and the answers from these UMD law students.
Here is a selection of frequently asked questions that will be addressed in this FAQ series.
- Is the EHR Amendment a new idea and if not, do other states have a right similar to the proposed Maryland Environmental Rights Amendment?
- How would the EHR Amendment be used to ensure environmental justice?
- Why does Maryland need a constitutional amendment, especially if the language (right to a healthful environment) is already included in the Maryland Environmental Policy Act (MEPA)?
- Would the EHR Amendment address climate change or cumulative impacts?
What questions do you need answered about the Environmental Human Rights Amendment? Please feel free to email us your questions at info@mdehr.org. MDEHR will answer all submitted questions either directly or through our blog.
