Well, what do you know? They did it. In Montana, of all places, a group of young climate activists sued the state, arguing that Montana’s constitution guarantees citizens the right to a clean and healthful environment. And the judge agreed, which will hold the state’s feet to the proverbial fire in considering further mining and fossil fuel development projects down the road. It was the first constitutional climate trial in America, and it could be the first domino to fall as younger generations demand action on protecting the planet to ensure they have the same quality of life as the generations that preceded them.
Some of this group have last names familiar to the fly-fishing community. To all the litigants and their parents we say congratulations and thank you.
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“The Montana attorney general’s office will appeal Seeley’s ruling to the Montana Supreme Court, Emily Flower, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Austin Knudsen, said in a statement.
“This ruling is absurd, but not surprising from a judge who let the plaintiffs’ attorneys put on a weeklong taxpayer-funded publicity stunt that was supposed to be a trial,” Flower said. “Their same legal theory has been thrown out of federal court and courts in more than a dozen states. The State will appeal.”
Keep us updated on the appeal
I think the spirit and the people of Montana are conservative in the sense of strict constitutionalism. So there is integrity in this.
Unfortunately, it is threatening to the corporatocracy at a fundamental level. Left unchecked to set legal precedent, it could form a basis for arguments regulating the purity of the food supply and safety of the pharmaceutical industry. Which is crucial to keeping us fat and stupid.