Young Environmentalists Sue Over Executive Orders That Benefit Fossil Fuels - CleanTechnica

A group of young environmentalists, previously successful in suing the state of Montana for violating its constitutional guarantee of a safe and clean environment, have now joined forces with other youth activists to sue the federal government. They seek to block several presidential executive orders issued this year that promote fossil fuel production under the guise of a national energy emergency. The lawsuit, supported by the nonprofit legal organization Our Children’s Trust, argues that these executive orders are unlawful and violate the state-created danger doctrine, which prohibits government actions that harm citizens. The case, heard in a federal courtroom in Missoula, Montana, marks the first time a youth-led constitutional climate lawsuit has included live testimony at the federal level. Plaintiffs and expert witnesses, including prominent academics and former White House advisor John Podesta, testified that the executive orders will exacerbate the climate crisis and jeopardize the health and future of young people and their communities. The federal government, however, did not present any witnesses and has moved to dismiss the case, following a