Before the summer, we wrote about the first constitutional climate trial in US history that had then just concluded. While we were away, an equally historical ruling came in.
The ruling – which came during a summer of extreme temperatures, floods, and fires – marks the first time a U.S. court has ruled that "young people have a fundamental right to a climate system that is safe and stable for their lives," according Julia Olson, chief legal counsel for the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs, aged 5 to 22, successfully argued that Montana's aggressive pursuit of fossil fuel development without considering climate impacts violated the constitution. The judge ruled that the state's prohibition on even considering the long-term impacts of fossil fuel development was "unconstitutional on its face", marking a significant development in climate litigation with global implications.
Read more about the ruling here.
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