The Montana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week in the appeal of the youth-led climate case Held v. Montana.
Sixteen youth plaintiffs sued the state for violating their constitutional right to a clean environment by failing to address climate change. A district court judge ruled in favor of the kids and ordered the state to consider how any proposed development project contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts.
Lawyers for the youth plaintiffs and the state will present their arguments to Montana’s highest court on Wednesday, July 10. National law firm Our Children’s Trust is backing this case and similar lawsuits in several other states.
The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Held case affects other litigation before the court, regarding Northwestern Energy’s power plant on the banks of the Yellowstone River. The court has indicated it will issue rulings on both cases at the same time, and intends to do so before the next legislative session begins in January.
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Montana’s Supreme Court this week heard oral arguments in the state’s appeal of a lower court ruling in the youth-led climate case Held v Montana. Sixteen young people are suing Montana for failing to act on climate change. They say that the state's fossil fuel friendly policies are violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment. -
Earlier this year, a court ordered state environmental regulators to consider climate impacts when assessing proposed development projects. Now, a working group tasked with reviewing this state policy has come up with draft recommendations. -
Montana Supreme Court schedules oral arguments in youth-led climate case Held v. Montana
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The Montana Supreme Court has heard opening arguments in a case that asks if state regulators should consider climate change in their decisions. The case centers on the permitting of a methane-fired power plant. -
A working group tasked with reviewing and updating Montana’s Environmental Policy Act is beginning to draft recommendations. -
Mining and coal interests signal opposition to landmark climate ruling. A handful of Montana non-profits will share millions of dollars of state money in support of homeless and emergency shelters. -
The state of Montana has filed its appeal to the Supreme Court over a youth-led climate case. -
A state working group tasked with recommending changes to Montana’s environmental regulations held its first meeting Monday.
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State environmental regulators must consider climate change as part of their permitting decisions for now. The Montana Supreme Court announced that order this week while they await a full argument in a youth-led climate lawsuit.
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Every three years Montana’s largest electric utility tells the public how it’s planning to meet energy demands, which is going on now. And it follows a major court ruling that found the state’s energy policy is contributing to climate change. MTPR’s Austin Amestoy sat down with reporter Ellis Juhlin to break down where NorthWestern’s plan fits into the new legal landscape.
