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Montana's top court upholds landmark ruling in youth climate case over greenhouse gas emissions

Montana's top court upholds landmark ruling in youth climate case over greenhouse gas emissions
In the nation's first constitutional climate trial, *** Montana judge handed *** significant victory to more than *** dozen young plaintiffs who alleged the state violated their right to *** clean and healthful environment by promoting the use of fossil fuels. The youths ranging in age from 5 to 22, said they had been harmed by the dangerous impact. Of fossil fuels and the climate crisis, with children uniquely vulnerable to its worsening impacts. District Court Judge Kathy Seely ruled that Montana's continued development of fossil fuels violates *** clause in its state constitution that guarantees its citizens the right to *** clean and healthful environment. CNN says Montana is. One of several states that have explicit environmental guarantees written into their state constitutions, even though the ruling won't prevent mining or burning fossil fuels in the state, it will reverse *** recently passed state law that prohibits state agencies from considering planet warming pollution when permitting fossil fuel projects.
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Montana's top court upholds landmark ruling in youth climate case over greenhouse gas emissions
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.File video from 2022 above: Montana judge rules in favor of youth in landmark climate caseThe justices, in a 6-1 ruling, upheld an August 2023 decision by a state judge that was considered a breakthrough in attempts by young environmentalists and their attorneys to use the courts to leverage action on climate change.The justices found a policy that prevented Montana from considering the effect of greenhouse gases when issuing permits for fossil fuel development is unconstitutional.The state had appealed the ruling and the arguments were held before the Montana Supreme Court in July.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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.

File video from 2022 above: Montana judge rules in favor of youth in landmark climate case

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The justices, in a 6-1 ruling, upheld an August 2023 decision by a state judge that was considered a breakthrough in attempts by young environmentalists and their attorneys to use the courts to leverage action on climate change.

The justices found a policy that prevented Montana from considering the effect of greenhouse gases when issuing permits for fossil fuel development is unconstitutional.

The state had appealed the ruling and the arguments were held before the Montana Supreme Court in July.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.