Frank Robert
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In Court Testimony, Climate Scientists Rebuke Montana for Support of Fossil Fuels
The testimony came during a two-week trial in which 16 young Montana residents are suing the state, alleging that it is violating their constitutional rights by failing to take action on climate change.
The plaintiffs, who range in age from 5 to 22, say that climate change is already harming them and their families, and that the state's continued support of fossil fuels will only make the problem worse.
The youth charge that the state’s strong preference for fossil fuel development has violated their right, guaranteed under Montana’s constitution, to a clean and healthful environment.Their case, Held vs. Montana, is the first U.S. climate lawsuit led by young people to go to trial, and the first U.S. climate trial grounded in constitutional claims.
In their testimony, the climate scientists said that Montana is one of the most vulnerable states to the effects of climate change, due to its high elevation, dry climate, and reliance on outdoor recreation.
They said that climate change is already causing more frequent and severe wildfires, droughts, and heat waves in Montana, and that these events are having a devastating impact on the state's environment and economy.
The scientists also said that Montana's continued support of fossil fuels is making the problem worse. They said that the state's coal, oil, and gas industries are major emitters of greenhouse gases, which are driving climate change.
The plaintiffs' attorneys are asking the court to declare unconstitutional a state law that prevents agencies from considering the effect of greenhouse gases when they issue permits for fossil fuel development.
The state is arguing that the law is constitutional and that it is not violating the plaintiffs' constitutional rights.
The trial is expected to conclude on Friday.
Here are some of the key points from the scientists' testimony:
- Climate change is already having a significant impact on Montana.
- The state's continued support of fossil fuels is making the problem worse.
- The state has a legal obligation to protect its residents from the harmful effects of climate change.
- The state's current climate policies are not adequate.
The plaintiffs' case is the first of its kind in the United States. If the plaintiffs are successful, it could set a precedent for other states and cities that are seeking to hold their governments accountable for the impacts of climate change.