Our Children’s Trust and the Western Environmental Law Center represented the youth plaintiffs in this case. They had said that if the ruling was not fully implemented, they were prepared to take further legal action to ensure the state is complying. Now, the reason that this case is groundbreaking and powerful is because Montana is one of the only states that guarantees this environmental right. Also, this was the first constitutional climate trial in the US where youth plaintiffs went to trial and won.
Now, what did the youth want?
The youth wanted the court to declare that Montana’s energy policies were unconstitutional because they were contributing to climate change and harmed their health, environment, and futures. They did not want money nor did they ask for money.
Judge Kathy Seeley wrote that Montanans have experienced past an ongoing injuries resulting from the states failure to consider greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change. She also talks about how they have received injuries to their physical and mental health, homes and property, economic security, and happiness.
In August 2023, the judge ruled in favor of the youth. The ruling of this case did determine that a provision in the Montana’s Environmental Policy Act violated the right to a clean environment, which is supposed to be guaranteed under Montana state constitution. During the lawsuit, these youths cited scientific evidence that burning fossil fuels is contributing to global warming, and that already is causing them harm.
Although this ruling does not stop all fossil fuel development, it sets a precedent that could be used in other climate lawsuits.
This case is huge—youth standing up for their future, and they actually won! It’s so powerful that the state’s own constitution was used to defend their right to a clean environment. While it doesn’t stop all fossil fuel projects, it definitely sets a strong precedent for future climate action. I love how these young activists aren’t just asking for money but real change for their futures. What’s next for this kind of movement?
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting! It's crazy to think that this was the first climate trial where youth won. It's unfortunate that they had to take it this far but it's still progress nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteWow, it is wonderful to see a wide group of young activists work together to call for action in their state. I was happy to hear the judge ruled in their favor, like you mentioned I could see the outcome of this case assisting in driving the point of future lawsuits.
ReplyDeleteI remember when this happened! It's unfortunate that this is the first time the youth won a trial about climate, and that the trial even needed to happen, but hopefully it sets a precedent for the next couple of years and encourages more people, especially young people, to speak out against bad climate policies and practices.
ReplyDeleteWow! The youth make such an impact because of their age especially. I was still playing with Barbies where they are trying to save our earth. Their ambition is so admirable and it's so reassuring that people are listening!
ReplyDeletePeople should use the youth as a sign that action needs to be taken!
ReplyDeleteI love this post. It is such an uplifting and great story to give us all a boost of how the fight could change things for the better. I wonder how many more examples of this we will see before people will actually care about the environment.
ReplyDeleteI love posts like these! Great to see young people taking their future into their own hands. Even if cases like these don't win, it still gets exposure for the cause and that can be equally as important.
ReplyDeleteI hope that this precedent will be used to further the goals of activists to be able to actually argue for their futures. Is there any plan that they've set forward to right the wrong?
ReplyDeleteWe need more of these suits, obviously. Andrew asks a good question.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a powerful example of how youth activism and science can come together to hold governments accountable. The validation in a court of law is a huge win for climate justice as a whole.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping we can see more of this throughout the nation's legal systems! Next steps are making sure that we enforce the rulings and right the wrongs, or else these rulings become nothing but symbolic.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what people mean when they say that the youth represent the future. This model of activism needs to be matched with everyone on Earth. How many more people need to annoce the world is being wasted by overheating and rising sea levels.
ReplyDeletebetween the ages of 5-22 were brave enough to let the State know about themselves is awesome, too many times we want to silence the youth especially when they are right.
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