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In August 2023, a judge ruled in favor of a group of youths suing the Montana government. This ruled that the Montana government must consider climate change when approving or renewing fossil fuel-related projects.

The trial calls on part of Montana's state constitution, giving Montanans “the right to a clean and healthful environment. . . for present and future generations.” This is a value of the anthropocentric value system.

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Why is this important for the environment?

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Why is this important for the environment?

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Climate change is caused by Greenhouse gases (Co₂, Methane, and others) accumulating in the atmosphere. This traps energy from the sun in the atmosphere leading to the warming of the planet, more severe weather, and more.

Climate change is naturally occurring, but humans are accelerating it massively and rapidly by releasing greenhouse gasses and polluting the planet.

This ruling will help the planet by reducing Montana's emissions of greenhouse gasses as they will have to take them into account whenever approving or renewing a related project. This directly helps reduce climate change, but it also helps in another way.

The trial is a massive and inspiring victory for youth who want to see change. It has inspired multiple other trials in Hawaii, Utah, and Virginia, as well as restarting a similar trial in Oregon that sat dormant for years. If these trials also pass, it will reduce emissions in these places as well as spread the idea more to other places, making a chain reaction that will massively help with the climate change movement.

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Montana has 5,000 gas wells, 4,000 oil wells, four oil refineries, and six coal mines. Also, 1/3 of Montana's electricity is from fossil fuels, making them a big part of its economy. If Montana has to move away from these they will have to find other ways to make money.

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1. This trial was the first constitutional climate trial in the U.S. led by youth.

2. It has inspired other similar trials.

3. There is a Netflix film about it: https://www.youthvgovfilm.com/

4. This trial was the first supported by https://www.youthvgov.org/

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The first-ever constitutional climate trial in the U.S. - led by Montana youth! - concluded June 20, 2023

Held v. State of Montana is a constitutional climate lawsuit brought by 16 Montana youth against their State to protect their equal rights to a healthy environment, life, dignity, and freedom. They are suing because their government keeps promoting and supporting fossil fuel extraction and burning, which is worsening the climate crisis and harming these youths' lives.

The youth are suing to protect the air, waters, wildlife and their public lands that are threatened by drought, heat, fires, smoke, and floods.

The youth are also suing to have their equal rights as adults enforced under the Montana Constitution.

What are the youth asking the court to do?

The youth plaintiffs do not seek money. They are asking the court to declare that Montana's fossil fuel energy policies and actions violate young people's state constitutional rights. The youth want the court to tell the government that it is unconstitutional to keep exploiting fossil fuels and they need to keep fossil in the ground and transition to clean energy no later than 2050.
The 16 youth plaintiffs in this case are represented by attorneys with Our Children's Trust, the Western Environmental Law Center, and McGarvey Law.

From June 12-20, 2023, youth plaintiffs, their attorneys, and world-renowned experts from across Montana and the United States presented clear, irrefutable evidence that:

Montana is promoting the extraction and burning of fossil fuels despite the availability of renewable energy sources.

Extracting and burning fossil fuels causes and worsens the climate crisis.

The climate crisis injures and harms the youth plaintiffs.

These climate injuries and harms, caused by the actions of their own government, violate the youth's state constitutional rights.

People from across Montana attended trial in Helena in the courtroom and at nearby local spaces to watch proceedings via community watch parties, while hundreds more around the world watched trial proceedings live each day via Zoom. National press covered the trial, including major print, television, online, and radio media. Environmental and climate organizations from across the state hosted community gatherings and events to stand in solidarity with the Held v. State of Montana youth.

Here are some of the ways you can take action today:

SIGN

Sign our online wall of support for the 16 youth plaintiffs standing up for their generation and future generations of Montanans.

SOLIDARITY

Post messages of solidarity to social media! Share why you stand with these young climate leaders in Montana. Tag @youthvgov and use the hashtags #HeldMakesHistory and #YouthvPoweredClimateTrial.

STAND

Stand with us and join our community! Sign up for our online mailing list for updates and actions.

SUPPORT

Donate today! Our Children's Trust represents the young plaintiffs in Held v. State of Montana -and many more young people around the world-all at no cost to them or their families.
Give today and your first-time or increased donation will be matched dollar-to-dollar!
Invest in our children's rights. Invest in our children's climate.
Invest in Our Children's Trust.

Sign up for Our Children's Trust's online mailing list - or follow us on social media @youthvgov - to get post-trial updates on this case.

PRESS CENTER

From analysis and commentary by our experts to media coverage of our cases and reactions to breaking news stories, Our Children's Trust is in the news, amplifying the voices and legal efforts of young people in Montana, across the United States, and around the world..

PRESS INQUIRIES: Please contact us at: press@ourchildrenstrust.org

MEMBERS OF THE PRESS: A press kit, daily and historic press releases, and media coverage on Held v. State of Montana are available for your use:

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Held v. State of Montana - Youth v. Gov - Youth v. Gov

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What is Youth v. Gov? It's climate justice. It's a movement. It's a story, a hashtag, an independent film. Learn about Held v. State of Montana here.