Held v Montana: the young people fighting for the climate in court - The Guardian
Held v Montana: the young people fighting for the climate in court | News | The Guardian
Dharna Noor reports on the 16 young people taking on the state of Montana in a historic climate case. What could it mean if the plaintiffs are successful?
How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know
The Held v Montana lawsuit is the United States’ first constitutional trial relating to the climate crisis. The plaintiffs, aged five to 22, in partnership with the non-profit law firm Our Children’s Trust, are arguing that the the state’s support for the fossil fuel industry undermines the constitution’s guarantee that the “state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations”.
Dharna Noor tells Michael Safi about the testimonies of the young people involved, and the arguments which have been playing out in court. She reports from Helena, Montana, where the case is being heard.
The Guardian is editorially independent. And we want to keep our journalism open and accessible to all. But we increasingly need our readers to fund our work.
Support The Guardian
Related Knowledge Center: Air emissions
More than 30 years after the last major update of the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Supreme Court has upended the ability of Congress to give the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies broad scope to combat air pollution, including the emission of greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, further Biden administration efforts to limit emissions face opposition in the courts.