A federal judge in Montana will evaluate whether the Trump administration's fossil fuel agenda infringes upon young plaintiffs' constitutional rights amidst climate change concerns. The case, Lighthiser v. Trump, involves 22 young Americans arguing that aggressive fossil fuel production accelerates climate change. This litigation employs the Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause to assert that the government is denying fundamental rights. Recent state-level victories underscore a growing trend where courts are utilized to prompt climate action against political inaction by targeting fossil fuel policies that neglect environmental considerations.
Eva Lighthiser expressed, "It's very intimidating to think about my future. The climate is very unreliable, it's destabilized, and it's going to get worse."
The case, Lighthiser v. Trump, focuses on the Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause, arguing that the government cannot deprive fundamental rights without due process.
Young plaintiffs from the nonprofit Our Children's Trust are pursuing a high-profile case leading the recent wave of U.S. climate litigation against fossil fuel policies.
In recent state-level victories, courts ruled that the lack of climate impact consideration in permit issuance violated the right to a clean environment.
Collection
[
|
...
]