Montana might overturn its landmark youth climate change ruling

The 16 Montana plaintiffs sued in 2020, when they were ages 2 to 18, alleging the state’s fossil fuel-based energy system and permitting of projects like coal and natural gas production exacerbated green house gas emissions and climate change.

Montana’s top court is set to hear the state’s appeal of a landmark ruling holding that it was violating the rights of young people to a clean and healthful environment by barring regulators from considering the impacts on climate change when approving fossil fuel projects.