Montana’s top court ruled on Wednesday that the state constitution guarantees a right to a stable climate, invalidating laws that prevented regulators from considering the impacts of greenhouse-gas emissions when permitting fossil-fuel projects. The Montana Supreme Court upheld a 2023 trial court decision in favor of 16 young plaintiffs, who argued that their health and futures were threatened by climate change exacerbated by the state’s approval of energy projects. This landmark 6-1 ruling, the first of its kind in the U.S., marks a significant victory for youth environmental activists challenging state and federal climate policies.
Chase Scheuer, spokesperson for Republican Attorney General Austin Knudsen, criticized the ruling, calling it disappointing and claiming that Montana lacks the power to influence the global climate. Youth-led lawsuits have targeted government policies they believe violate the constitutional rights of young people by enabling the extraction and burning of fossil fuels.
The ruling rejected Montana’s argument that the young plaintiffs lacked legal standing to challenge restrictions on considering emissions when issuing permits. Chief Justice Mike McGrath wrote that the plaintiffs demonstrated a personal stake in their right to a clean environment, highlighting how climate change is damaging Montana’s ecosystems—altering water systems, air quality, glaciers, and forests. McGrath affirmed that the constitutional provision mandates protection of the environment, ensuring that the state does not permit pollution despite global trends.
Plaintiffs’ attorney Nate Bellinger praised the ruling, stating it affirmed young people’s constitutional rights to a livable climate.
Also read: Trump to Meet Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos at Mar-a-Lago
