A landmark climate change trial opened yesterday in Montana, where a group of young folks are contending that the state’s addiction to fossil fuels is destroying pristine environments and cultural traditions while also robbing young residents of a healthy future. The case, Held v. Montana, is more than a decade in the making, and it’s the first of a series of similar challenges pending in various states as part of an effort to increase pressure on lawmakers to take more urgent action on emissions.
Rikki Held, 22, the namesake plaintiff who was among the first witnesses to testify yesterday, talks about how her family’s 3,000-acre ranch in eastern Montana has been threatened by droughts, wildfires and extreme weather, including heat waves and floods.
Grace Gibson-Snyder, 19, of Missoula, Montana, another one of the plaintiffs, told the court that smoke from wildfires has gotten worse with climate change and turned into a “defining experience” of playing soccer in high school. The smoke regularly covered her hometown in unhealthy air, forced practice cancellations and kept teammates with asthma from taking the field.
The case is the first of dozens of similar lawsuits to reach trial. Legal experts say it could set legal precedent but isn’t likely to result in immediate policy changes in Montana. Montana’s state agencies have never denied a permit for a fossil fuel project and the state’s legislature recently passed new laws favoring oil, gas and coal over renewable energy.
The lawsuit focuses on Montana’s constitutional right to a “clean and healthful environment,” and whether that means the state should act to protect residents against worsening climate change. By enlisting plaintiffs ranging in age from 5 to 22, the environmental firm behind the lawsuit is trying to highlight how young people are harmed by climate change now and in the future. The consequences of our oil and gas consumption won’t be evenly distributed, and these kids in Montana are simply trying to protect themselves and their environment. Trust the kids.
Side Items
Trump Tracker: The embattled former president will appear in court in Miami today, assuming all goes to plan. He is expected to plead not guilty on charges that he illegally kept documents and obstructed the government’s efforts to retrieve them. The case will be presided over by Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, so I’m sure there will be no foul play, just an honest reckoning with Trump’s decisions (just kidding, he’ll be fine)
Nuggets Win It All: The Nuggets of Denver did what so many geriatric Floridians have been unable to do and outlasted the Miami Heat, taking home their first NBA title. The team was of course led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic who ended the postseason with the most points, rebounds, and assists for the team. Now begins the awful two month stretch of the year where people try and convince me that American football is a sport worth watching (it isn’t)
And Another One: Of course, as with any occasion or event in this country, a mass shooting was reported as Denver fans celebrated their win. Ten people were wounded in a mass shooting early this morning about 3 and a half hours after the game wrapped up. Three of the injured were in critical condition, and the suspect, a man, was one of seven people who suffered injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. The shooting took place about a mile from Ball Arena, where the game took place, so go ahead and add professional sports venues as areas for potential mass shootings. Awesome way to live our lives