Young climate activists in the US state of Montana are celebrating an historic supreme court win after a ruling affirmed their right to a “safe and liveable climate”.
The judgement upheld an earlier district court decision, which saw 16 young plaintiffs - aged as young as five - successfully sue the state over its pro-fossil fuel policies. If politicians and governments don't act in a manner that their constituents believe to be appropriate, the law courts have frequently sided with the plaintiffs to stop climate damaging activities and the people's rights. So, these youth activists sued, claiming that the state had breached their “inalienable” right to “a clean and healthful environment.” And, in August 2023, they won their case.
Their testimony included personal stories of climate change affecting their health, income and heritage. Nonetheless, Montana moved to overturn the 2023 judgement, but its bid was rejected in this ruling, which also obliges the state to consider the environmental and public health impacts of future fossil fuel projects.
“This ruling is a victory not just for us, but for every young person whose future is threatened by climate change,” said Rikki Held, the lawsuit’s 23-year-old lead plaintiff. “We have been heard, and today the Montana supreme court has affirmed that our rights to a safe and healthy climate cannot be ignored.”