Montana officials downplay first-of-its-kind climate trial
1 year, 6 months ago

Montana officials downplay first-of-its-kind climate trial

Associated Press  

— Montana officials sought to downplay a first-of-its-kind trial taking place over the state’s obligations to protect residents from climate change, saying Monday that a victory by the young plaintiffs would not change approvals for fossil fuel projects. Plaintiffs’ attorneys had questioned the credibility of the two witnesses, who said Montana’s greenhouse gas contributions were of little significance versus global totals. The state’s lead environmental regulator said Monday that permitting practices would not change if the young environmentalists win their case. “Climate change is wreaking so much havoc on our world right now and I know that will only be getting worse.” Attorneys for the state did not closely question any of the plaintiffs’ claims about the physical and psychological harms they’ve suffered.

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History of this topic

U.S. Chamber, Oil Industry Sue Vermont Over Law Requiring Companies To Pay For Climate Change Damage
6 days, 8 hours ago

U.S. Chamber, Oil Industry Sue Vermont Over Law Requiring Companies To Pay For Climate Change Damage

Huff Post  

A small tractor clears water from a business as flood waters block a street, July 12, 2023, in Barre, Vt. via Associated Press MONTPELIER, Vt. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a top oil and gas industry trade group are suing Vermont over its new law requiring that fossil fuel companies pay a share of the damage caused over …

US Chamber, oil industry sue Vermont over law requiring companies to pay for climate change damage
1 week ago

US Chamber, oil industry sue Vermont over law requiring companies to pay for climate change damage

Associated Press  

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a top oil and gas industry trade group are suing Vermont over its new law requiring that fossil fuel companies pay a share of the damage caused over several decades by climate change. It also argues that the law violates domestic and foreign commerce clauses by discriminating “against the important interest …

A Landmark Victory in the Legal Fight Against Climate Change
3 weeks ago

A Landmark Victory in the Legal Fight Against Climate Change

Slate  

Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. They scored a major victory on Wednesday when the Montana Supreme Court issued a landmark decision holding that the state constitution protects residents against climate change. Mark Joseph Stern: It all started with a provision of the state constitution …

Global warming can’t be ignored, Montana’s top court says, upholding landmark climate case
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Global warming can’t be ignored, Montana’s top court says, upholding landmark climate case

Associated Press  

— Montana’s Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a landmark climate ruling that said the state was violating residents’ constitutional right to a clean environment by permitting oil, gas and coal projects without regard for global warming. The justices, in a 6-1 ruling, rejected the state’s argument that greenhouse gases released from Montana fossil fuel projects are minuscule on a global …

Montana urges state top court to overturn landmark climate ruling
6 months ago

Montana urges state top court to overturn landmark climate ruling

Hindustan Times  

By Nate Raymond Montana urges state top court to overturn landmark climate ruling July 10 - Montana's top court on Wednesday appeared open to upholding a landmark ruling that found the state violated the rights of young people to a healthy environment by barring regulators from considering how new fossil fuel projects could affect climate change. Several justices on the …

Republicans urge reversal of landmark ruling in Montana climate change lawsuit by young plaintiffs
6 months ago

Republicans urge reversal of landmark ruling in Montana climate change lawsuit by young plaintiffs

Hindustan Times  

— Attorneys for Republican officials pressed Montana's Supreme Court on Wednesday to overturn a landmark climate ruling that said the state was violating residents' constitutional right to a clean environment by allowing oil, gas and coal projects without regard for global warming. Republicans urge reversal of landmark ruling in Montana climate change lawsuit by young plaintiffs Last year's ruling by …

Republicans urge reversal of landmark ruling in Montana climate change lawsuit by young plaintiffs
6 months ago

Republicans urge reversal of landmark ruling in Montana climate change lawsuit by young plaintiffs

Associated Press  

— Attorneys for Republican officials pressed Montana’s Supreme Court on Wednesday to overturn a landmark climate ruling that said the state was violating residents’ constitutional right to a clean environment by allowing oil, gas and coal projects without regard for global warming. Last year’s ruling by a state district judge was considered a breakthrough in attempts by young environmentalists and …

Opinion: Did Hawaii just pave the way for court enforcement of California’s climate promises?
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Opinion: Did Hawaii just pave the way for court enforcement of California’s climate promises?

LA Times  

A roadside memorial for victims of last year’s Maui wildfire. The resulting deal will accelerate Hawaii’s progress toward a zero-emission transportation system, and it could serve as a road map for other advocates looking to gain ground on urgent climate goals. In addition to a statewide 2045 carbon neutrality target, the state Legislature enacted a 2030 emissions reduction goal and …

Supreme Court asks Justice Department to weigh in on climate change suits in California, other states
7 months ago

Supreme Court asks Justice Department to weigh in on climate change suits in California, other states

LA Times  

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Justice Department to weigh in on whether the climate change lawsuits filed by California and two dozen other cities and states should be blocked. The oil and gas industries had urged the high court to take up the issue now and to rule that federal law preempts or overrides state claims seeking damages …

Oil industry asks Supreme Court to block climate change lawsuits from California, other states
7 months, 1 week ago

Oil industry asks Supreme Court to block climate change lawsuits from California, other states

LA Times  

Maps show temperature ranges of California’s average hottest day of the year from 1950 to 2010, left, compared to projections for the rest of this century under different scenarios, center and right. Oil and gas companies are asking the Supreme Court to block dozens of high-powered lawsuits from California to Massachusetts seeking to hold the industry liable for billions of …

Appeals court rejects climate change lawsuit by young Oregon activists against US government
8 months, 1 week ago

Appeals court rejects climate change lawsuit by young Oregon activists against US government

Associated Press  

SEATTLE — A federal appeals court panel on Wednesday rejected a long-running lawsuit brought by young Oregon-based climate activists who argued that the U.S. government’s role in climate change violated their constitutional rights. But U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken in Eugene, Oregon, instead allowed the activists to amend their lawsuit and last year ruled the case could go to trial. …

Montana Supreme Court upholds landmark climate ruling that said emissions can’t be ignored
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Montana Supreme Court upholds landmark climate ruling that said emissions can’t be ignored

Associated Press  

— Montana’s Supreme Court has rejected an attempt by the state’s Republican governor to block a landmark climate ruling that said regulators must consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions when issuing permits for fossil fuel development. Seeley ruled a state law that prohibited agencies from considering the effect of emissions runs afoul of the state constitution’s requirement “to maintain …

18 California children are suing the EPA over climate change
1 year, 1 month ago

18 California children are suing the EPA over climate change

NPR  

18 California children are suing the EPA over climate change Enlarge this image toggle caption William Campbell/Getty Images William Campbell/Getty Images Eighteen California children are suing the Environmental Protection Agency, claiming it violated their constitutional rights by failing to protect them from the effects of climate change. We are running from wildfires, being displaced by floods, panicking in hot classrooms …

Young activists who won Montana climate case want to stop power plant on Yellowstone River
1 year, 1 month ago

Young activists who won Montana climate case want to stop power plant on Yellowstone River

Associated Press  

— Fresh off a legal victory earlier this year in a landmark climate change case, a group of young environmental activists is trying to persuade the Montana Supreme Court to stop a natural gas power plant that’s being built on the banks of the Yellowstone River. The 16 activists said in a court brief filed Tuesday that the air quality …

Young activists who won Montana climate case want to stop power plant on Yellowstone River
1 year, 1 month ago

Young activists who won Montana climate case want to stop power plant on Yellowstone River

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Fresh off a legal victory …

Montana is appealing a landmark climate change ruling that favored youth plaintiffs
1 year, 3 months ago

Montana is appealing a landmark climate change ruling that favored youth plaintiffs

Associated Press  

— The office of Montana’s Republican attorney general is appealing a landmark climate change ruling that said state agencies aren’t doing enough to protect 16 young plaintiffs from harm caused by global warming. The state filed notice on Friday that it is going to appeal the August ruling by District Court Judge Kathy Seeley, who found the Montana Environmental Policy …

The GOP's suicide pact with Big Oil — and how climate victims are fighting back
1 year, 4 months ago

The GOP's suicide pact with Big Oil — and how climate victims are fighting back

Salon  

Anyone who watched the first Republican presidential debate last week watched the candidates — minus Donald Trump, of course —punt on climate. Taking aim at Joe Biden's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, Project 2025 proposes to erase clean energy programs from the federal government entirely while boosting the production of fossil fuels. Formulated by the Heritage Foundation and distributed to all …

Young environmentalists won a landmark climate change ruling in Montana. Will it change anything?
1 year, 4 months ago

Young environmentalists won a landmark climate change ruling in Montana. Will it change anything?

Associated Press  

— Young environmental activists prevailed in a closely watched Montana lawsuit that said state officials weren’t doing enough to protect them from climate change. State District Judge District Judge Kathy Seeley said officials violated Montana’s highly protective constitution by refusing to consider the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions when they’ve approved coal mines, oil drilling and new power plants. “The …

Young environmental activists prevail in first-of-its-kind climate change trial in Montana
1 year, 4 months ago

Young environmental activists prevail in first-of-its-kind climate change trial in Montana

Associated Press  

— Young environmental activists scored what experts described as a ground-breaking legal victory Monday when a Montana judge said state agencies were violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by allowing fossil fuel development. It marks the first time a U.S. court has ruled against a government for violating a constitutional right based on climate change, said …

Judge sides with youth activists in historic US climate crisis case
1 year, 4 months ago

Judge sides with youth activists in historic US climate crisis case

Al Jazeera  

In a first-of-its-kind trial, US youth accuse Montana of violating their rights through lax environmental policies. “Montana’s emissions and climate change have been proven to be a substantial factor in causing climate impacts to Montana’s environment and harm and injury,” Seeley wrote. For its part, the state has argued that, even if Montana completely stopped producing carbon dioxide, it would …

First-of-its-kind climate trial ends as Montana AG slams ‘stunt exploiting children’
1 year, 6 months ago

First-of-its-kind climate trial ends as Montana AG slams ‘stunt exploiting children’

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Montana Assistant Attorney General Michael Russell said on Tuesday that the climate change issue is much larger than Montana …

Montana officials downplay first-of-its-kind climate trial
1 year, 6 months ago

Montana officials downplay first-of-its-kind climate trial

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Montana officials sought to downplay …

The ‘climate kids’ want a court to force Montana’s state government to go green
1 year, 6 months ago

The ‘climate kids’ want a court to force Montana’s state government to go green

CNN  

Helena, Montana CNN — It’s a Big Sky story fit for a big screen. “This case is about the equal rights of children,” attorney Roger Sullivan began in his opening argument in Held vs. Montana this week, “and their need now for extraordinary protection from the extraordinary dangers of fossil fuel pollution and climate crisis that their state government is …

Lawsuit pits young climate change activists against a fossil fuel-friendly state at trial
1 year, 6 months ago

Lawsuit pits young climate change activists against a fossil fuel-friendly state at trial

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

Young athlete in Montana climate change trial testifies he uses inhaler due to forest fire smoke
1 year, 6 months ago

Young athlete in Montana climate change trial testifies he uses inhaler due to forest fire smoke

Associated Press  

— A high school athlete who along with 15 other young people took Montana to court over climate change testified Tuesday that increased smoke from forest fires makes it difficult for him to compete and that a doctor prescribed an inhaler to help his breathing problems. Earlier Tuesday, Cathy Whitlock, a retired professor from Montana State University, testified about the …

Young people in Montana are first to take their state to trial over climate failures
1 year, 6 months ago

Young people in Montana are first to take their state to trial over climate failures

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A group of Montana youth who say their lives are already being affected by climate …

Young climate activists take Montana to court for its role in global warming
1 year, 6 months ago

Young climate activists take Montana to court for its role in global warming

Associated Press  

— Rikki Held decided to join other young plaintiffs in a lawsuit to force Montana officials to do something about climate change after watching wildfires blacken the sky over her family’s ranch, drought stress the cattle and violent floods erode the banks of a nearby river. “You can’t just blow it off and do nothing about it.” The state court …

‘Historic moment’: First climate action case goes on trial in US
1 year, 6 months ago

‘Historic moment’: First climate action case goes on trial in US

Al Jazeera  

Plaintiffs – aged five to 22 – argue Montana’s promotion of an energy system reliant on fossil fuels violates their right to a clean and healthy environment under the US state’s constitution. For that reason alone, it will be a historic moment in climate litigation.” Barbara Chillcott, a Western Environmental Law Center attorney on the case, told Al Jazeera that …

Youth environmentalists bring Montana climate case to trial after 12 years, seeking to set precedent
1 year, 7 months ago

Youth environmentalists bring Montana climate case to trial after 12 years, seeking to set precedent

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Experts for the state are expected to downplay …

Youth environmentalists bring Montana climate case to trial after 12 years, seeking to set precedent
1 year, 7 months ago

Youth environmentalists bring Montana climate case to trial after 12 years, seeking to set precedent

Associated Press  

— Whether a constitutional right to a healthy, livable climate is protected by state law is at the center of a lawsuit going to trial Monday in Montana, where 16 young plaintiffs and their attorneys hope to set an important legal precedent. “We’ve seen repeatedly over the last few years what the Montana state Legislature is choosing,” Gibson-Snyder said. Experts …

Oregon youths’ climate lawsuit against US government can proceed to trial, judge rules
1 year, 7 months ago

Oregon youths’ climate lawsuit against US government can proceed to trial, judge rules

Associated Press  

EUGENE, Ore. — A federal judge ruled on Thursday that a lawsuit brought by young Oregon-based climate activists can proceed to trial years after they first filed the lawsuit in an attempt to hold the nation’s leadership accountable for its role in climate change. Aiken wrote in her decision, “It is a foundational doctrine that when government conduct catastrophically harms …

The challenges and promises of climate lawsuits
1 year, 7 months ago

The challenges and promises of climate lawsuits

The Hindu  

Lawsuits against emissions-spewing governments and fossil fuel companies have established themselves as a key tool in the battle against climate change, but they aren't always successful Even the temperate, mountainous country of Switzerland isn't immune to climate change. "One of the reasons it's so important to look closely at these cases and the impact they're having is because their impact …

Youth lawsuit challenging Montana’s pro-fossil fuel policies is heading to trial
1 year, 7 months ago

Youth lawsuit challenging Montana’s pro-fossil fuel policies is heading to trial

Associated Press  

— A Montana judge on Friday said a climate change lawsuit from young people challenging the state’s pro-fossil fuel policies will proceed to trial despite efforts by the state to derail the case. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, a Republican, had asked state Judge Kathy Seeley to dismiss any part of the case touching on the cancelled energy policy. An …

With time ticking for climate action, Supreme Court limits ways to curb emissions
2 years, 6 months ago

With time ticking for climate action, Supreme Court limits ways to curb emissions

NPR  

With time ticking for climate action, Supreme Court limits ways to curb emissions Enlarge this image toggle caption J. David Ake/AP J. David Ake/AP For two decades, Congress has failed to pass standalone climate change legislation. "I applaud the Supreme Court's decision today in West Virginia v. EPA," said West Virginia Governor Jim Justice in a statement. "I don't believe …

Vermont sues 4 oil companies, alleges false info on climate
3 years, 3 months ago

Vermont sues 4 oil companies, alleges false info on climate

Associated Press  

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Vermont on Tuesday became the latest state to sue some of the country’s top fossil fuel companies by alleging they misled the public about the impact their products have on climate change. The state wants the companies to tell consumers that the use of fossil fuel products harms the environment, Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan said after …

Judge: US must reconsider climate impacts of Montana mine
5 years, 10 months ago

Judge: US must reconsider climate impacts of Montana mine

Associated Press  

— U.S. officials have again been faulted by a federal judge for failing to adequately consider the potential climate change effects of expanding a massive coal mine in the sagebrush-covered hills of southeastern Montana. If she adopts Cavan’s recommendation, it would mark a setback to the Interior Department’s attempts to downplay the climate change impacts of burning fossil fuels extracted …

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