Historic win for young climate activists who sued Montana

The judge who heard the US's first constitutional climate trial in June has ruled in favour of a group of young plaintiffs who had accused state officials in Montana of violating their right to a healthy environment.

- Dharna Noor

"I'm so speechless right now," said Eva, a plaintiff who was 14 when the suit was filed. "I'm really just excited and elated and thrilled." 

The challengers' lawyers described the first-of-its-kind ruling as a "gamechanger" and a "sweeping win", which campaigners hope will give a boost to similar lawsuits.

In a case that made headlines around the world, 16 plaintiffs, aged five to 22, had alleged the state government's pro-fossil fuel policies contributed to climate change.

In trial hearings in June, they testified that these policies therefore violated provisions in the state constitution that guarantee a "clean and healthful environment", among other constitutional protections. The trial came to a close on 20 June.

On Monday, Judge Kathy Seeley said in a 103-page ruling that by prohibiting government agencies from considering climate impacts when deciding whether to permit energy projects, Montana was contributing to the climate crisis and stopping the state from addressing that crisis.

"My initial reaction is, we're pretty over the moon," said Melissa Hornbein, an attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center who represented the plaintiffs in the 2020 lawsuit. "It's a very good order."