A group of young prosecutors in the US state of Montana achieved historic success in a climate trial. A judge ruled on Monday that Montana violated prosecutors’ constitutional right to a “clean and healthy environment.”
Judge Kathy Seeley ruled unconstitutional a state law that required agencies to ignore the effects of greenhouse gases when reviewing oil and gas project permit applications.
Judgment with a large signal effect?
The decision in the Heroes vs. Montana case sends a big signal and could encourage similar trials across the country. 16 plaintiffs between the ages of five and 22 had filed suit. They accuse the state in the western United States of damage from the “dangerous effects of fossil fuels and the climate crisis.” Children are “particularly vulnerable” to the worsening effects, she argues.
Chief Prosecutor Rikki Held, whose family runs a farm in Montana, testified at trial that her family’s livelihoods and well-being are increasingly affected by wildfires, extreme temperatures and drought. She recalled wildfires where power lines burned down dozens of miles “so we had no electricity for a month.” Livestock died because farmers couldn’t pump water and grass was scarce because of drought, she said.
The plaintiffs did not care about the money
The plaintiffs did not seek monetary compensation, but instead sought an explanation that their rights had been violated. The Montana constitution states, “The state and everyone shall maintain and enhance a clean and healthy environment in Montana for present and future generations.” At the same time, Montana is very pro-fossil fuel.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
