UPDATE on: Will Justice Be Done in “Held vs The State of Montana”?
Don’t let anyone tell you youth is wasted on the young.
8/14/23 UPDATE: “Two months after the landmark environmental trial concluded, a judge has ruled the plaintiffs have a constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment.”
This is outstanding news! read more about this big win here and here.
Here’s our original post:
In Montana a groundbreaking climate trial (Held vs the State of Montana) has just concluded, as 16 young Montana residents (ages two through 18) are challenging the state’s government’s pro-fossil fuel policies.
These brave kids have set out to prove that Montana’s policies contribute to climate change, violating the state constitution that guarantees that the “state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations”.
The lawsuit seeks an order that would cause the state to prepare and implement a remedial plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“I am worried about climate change worsening the devastation it has already brought on my family, community, the local ecosystem and my wellbeing – especially if immediate action to curb greenhouse gas emissions is not taken.”
On June 20th in his closing argument, Senior Staff Attorney for Our Children’s Trust, Nate Bellinger stated, ”A stable climate system is integral to each and every one of the constitutional rights that have been implicated in this proceeding. And Plaintiffs have established–through overwhelming evidence–that their rights have been violated. Central to this violation is the MEPA Limitation and its implementation, forcing Montana’s agencies to turn a blind eye to climate change’s catastrophic impacts and the mounting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions driving these unnatural, wholly avoidable injuries.”
Further, Bellinger continued, ” You’ve heard the state say this is a boring case about a procedural law. But to the contrary, this is about the Plaintiffs’ lives, their livelihoods, and their future.”
You can read the entire closing argument delivered by Nate Bellinger here.
We are watching this case closely – indeed, the eyes of our nation are on this case, and these children, as they bravely press forward – and we will update you here.
In the meantime, here are some ways we can take action to stand with the plaintiffs: https://www.youthvgov.org/held-v-montana/#lists
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Join RESET Conversations on July 11th at 6 PM ET, when Dave Finnigan with Green Actioneers shares how your kids can do their part to save our planet at home, or at school, right here is SWFL. The Zoom event is free to the public.
