Our Children’s Trust, Press Release, 9 April 2016,
Judge Denies Motions by Fossil Fuel Industry and Federal Government in Landmark Climate Change Case,
Today, U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin of the federal District
Court in Eugene, OR, decided in favor of 21 young Plaintiffs, and
Dr. James Hansen on behalf of future generations, in their landmark
constitutional climate change case brought against the federal
government and the fossil fuel industry. The Court’s ruling is a
major victory for the 21 youth Plaintiffs, ages 8-19, from across
the U.S. in what Bill McKibben and Naomi Klein call the “most
important lawsuit on the planet right now.” These plaintiffs
sued the federal government for violating their constitutional
rights to life, liberty and property, and their right to essential
public trust resources, by permitting, encouraging, and otherwise
enabling continued exploitation, production, and combustion of
fossil fuels.
Full
press release
and court order.
In denying the motions of the federal government and the fossil fuel
industry, the court’s decision framed the issue as follows:
“Plaintiffs are suing the United States … because the
government has known for decades that carbon dioxide (C02) pollution
has been causing catastrophic climate change and has failed to take
necessary action to curtail fossil fuel emissions. Moreover, Continue reading →