The first trial related to climate change in the United States opened this Monday, June 12 in Montana. A dozen youths have filed lawsuits against the northwestern state, accusing it of violating their constitutional right to a “ clean and healthy environment “.
The case, dubbed “Held versus Montana,” is being watched closely because its outcome could support other lawsuits across the country, targeting both the fossil fuel industry and the authorities. The 16 complainants, aged 5 to 22, claim that the “ dangerous effects of fossil fuels and the climate crisis harmed them – the children being uniquely vulnerable to these worsening effects.
Lead plaintiff Rikki Held, whose family owns a ranch in eastern Montana, recounted how their way of life has been directly affected by the increasingly raging wildfires, extreme temperatures, and drought. frequently this State renowned for its green landscapes.
Rikki Held, 22, spoke of a wildfire that knocked out power lines and knocked out power to their ranch for a month, killing livestock because the family couldn’t pump water. By 2021, smoke and ash from the fires had saturated the air “ all summer “, explained this graduate in environmental sciences.
Montana’s Disastrous Energy Policy
At the heart of the debates, there is an article of the local constitution stipulating that “ the State and everyone must maintain and improve a clean and healthy environment in montana for present and future generations “. The plaintiffs also question the constitutionality of a Montana law that prohibits the local government from considering climate impacts when deciding whether or not to grant permits to fossil fuel companies. They do not demand any compensation, but ask that a statement be drawn up stating that their rights are infringed. This should be a first step towards legislative action.
In his opening remarks, attorney Roger Sullivan discussed the effects of global warming on Montana’s youth. ” Heat, drought, forest fires, air pollution, violent storms, disappearance of local wildlife, melting glaciers, loss of pillars and family and cultural traditions “, he listed, also referring to the medical and psychological damage.
In addition, the lawyer argued that the state had conducted a disastrous energy policy, releasing 166 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year, the equivalent of a country like Argentina, while Montana does not has just over a million inhabitants. Climatologist Steve Running, called to testify by the prosecution, presented Monday the scientific evidence of the responsibility of man in global warming. Montana, for example, is experiencing shorter winters lengthening the fire season, he noted.
On several occasions, the State has tried to have the prosecutions dismissed on grounds of procedural flaw. But on June 6, the state Supreme Court gave the green light for the trial to begin. It will run until June 23 in Helena, capital of Montana.
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(With AFP)