Children’s Environmental Bill of Rights – Model Law Launched-1/21/2021

Press Release

January 21, 2021

Contact:

Thomas Linzey

Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights

tal@pa.net

Kim Konte

Non-Toxic Neighborhoods

kim@nontoxicneighborhoods.org

SPOKANE, WA: With our partner group, Non-Toxic Neighborhoods, the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER) developed and is releasing a new model local ordinance, the Children’s Environmental Bill of Rights. 

The model ordinance, intended for passage by cities, towns, counties, and other municipalities across the United States, is focused on protecting children from environmental harm.

The model ordinance recognizes the right of children to clean air and water, to be free from synthetic pesticides and toxic chemicals, and to be healthy.

Further, the model ordinance bans corporations and governments from violating the rights of children and recognizes the ability of parents, guardians, and others to enforce and defend the rights of children secured by the law.

Mari Margil, Executive Director of CDER, stated, “In the U.S. and elsewhere, children are especially susceptible to industrial-caused environmental harm. As part of our effort to protect the environmental rights of people and nature, it’s time to protect children by prohibiting industrial activities that would violate their rights to clean air and water, and to be healthy.”

Kim Konte, Executive Director of Non-Toxic Neighborhoods, explained, “Communities across the United States are focused on eliminating the use of glyphosate and other synthetic pesticides because of their impacts on children. We must continue that work, and build on it by recognizing that children have a legally enforceable right to clean air and water, and the right to be healthy. This means establishing the highest protections afforded under the law against industrial and commercial facilities that impact the health of children.”

CDER and Non-Toxic Neighborhoods will be circulating the Children’s Environmental Bill of Rights to municipal governments in California and other states and will be assisting local officials to adopt the law, along with assisting communities to place the ordinance onto local ballots for community votes.

Non-Toxic Neighborhoods has partnered with communities across the U.S. to protect children from harmful synthetic pesticides that are linked to developmental delays and lasting health impacts.

The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights works across the U.S. and globally to strengthen and advance democratic and environmental rights, including the rights of nature.

To learn more about the Children’s Environmental Bill of Rights and model ordinance, or if you are seeking to move the ordinance forward in your community, contact the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights at info@centerforenvironmentalrights.org.

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