Montana Supreme Court Upholds Youth Climate Ruling, Asserts Constitutional Right to Clean Environment

Montana's Supreme Court confirmed a ruling that upholds young plaintiffs' constitutional right to a clean environment, impacting fossil fuel project permits.

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Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

In a landmark 6-1 decision, Montana's Supreme Court upheld a ruling stating that the state's permitting processes for fossil fuels violate residents' constitutional right to a clean environment. The plaintiffs, aged 6 to 23, argued the state must consider greenhouse gas emissions in project permits. The ruling emphasizes the state's duty to evaluate climate impacts, rejecting claims that local emissions are negligible. This decision marks a significant legal precedent for youth-led climate actions across the U.S.

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