Montana youth climate ruling could set precedent for future climate litigation

A Montana court’s ruling, favoring 16 young plaintiffs in a climate lawsuit, may set a precedent for future climate litigation.

The Historic Ruling: This is the first time a U.S. court has declared the right of the youth to a safe and stable climate system.
* The youth plaintiffs, aged 5 to 22, argued that Montana was infringing on the state’s constitutional guarantee of a clean environment by pursuing aggressive fossil fuel development without considering future climate impacts.

Reaction and Implications: The ruling is seen as defining a new direction for climate litigation, potentially setting precedent for future cases.
* The state of Montana, a significant coal producer, has stated that it will appeal this ruling.
* However, legal experts believe that regardless of the appeal, this victory could influence future court cases centered on government accountability in the climate crisis.
* “This case can set a precedent for other legal cases outside of Montana’s borders,” says Rikki Held, the lead plaintiff of the case.

Expanding Fields: An increasing number of climate-related lawsuits are being filed globally.
* Climate-related lawsuits have more than doubled over the past five years, according to a recent United Nations report.
* Legal experts see this ruling as significant because it adds to the body of climate science record with over 70 pages listing factual findings that could be cited in future trials.

Cautious Takeaways: While this ruling is considered a victory for climate activists, experts caution on limitations.
* The unique clause in Montana’s Constitution could limit the applicability of this ruling in other states, except for a few like Hawaii, which have similar provisions in their constitutions.
* “It’s not a silver bullet,” says Michael Gerrard, director of Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, “but litigation, certainly, is one important element of that.”

View original article on NPR

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