Montana Republicans urge reversal of landmark ruling in climate change lawsuit by young plaintiffs
Republican officials in Montana are pressing the state Supreme Court to overturn a landmark climate ruling in a lawsuit brought by young environmentalists
HELENA, Mont. — Attorneys for Republican officials in Montana pressed the state Supreme Court on Wednesday to overturn a landmark climate ruling that said regulators were violating residents' constitutional right to a clean environment by allowing oil, gas and coal projects without regard for global warming.
Last year's ruling by a state district judge was considered a breakthrough in attempts by young environmentalists and their attorneys to use courts to leverage action on climate change. It must be upheld by the state's high court to set lasting legal precedent.
Attorneys for state officials, including Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, told justices Wednesday that greenhouse gases from Montana are insignificant on a global scale.
They also argued that climate change is too broad a problem to solve through the courts and noted that state law prohibits the denial of fossil-fuel projects based on their carbon dioxide emissions.
“Global climate change is a complex issue that can’t be solved by a judicial decision,” state attorney Dale Schowengerdt said.
Arguing on behalf of the plaintiffs, attorney Roger Sullivan recounted trial testimony from scientists that every ton of greenhouse gases emitted exacerbates climate change.
“The temperature goes up day by day," Sullivan said. “If nothing is done, it will be much hotter 50 years from now, when these young plaintiffs are my age, because of this climate emergency to which the state of Montana is a substantial contributing factor.”
The seven justices took the case under advisement. A decision could take weeks or months.
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