The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a case brought by 21 young activists who claimed that the U.S. government’s energy policies violated their constitutional rights by failing to protect them from the dangers of climate change.
The Court’s decision effectively ends Juliana v. United States, one of the most significant and long-running climate lawsuits led by youth activists. This case, which started in 2015, argued that U.S. energy policies promoting fossil fuel extraction and consumption contributed to global warming, violating the plaintiffs’ rights to due process and equal protection under the Constitution.
The Supreme Court’s ruling came after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco had already decided that the plaintiffs did not have legal standing to sue, and ordered the dismissal of the case.
Despite the setback, the youth-led climate movement remains steadfast. “This decision does not mark the end of the road. The impact of Juliana is far greater than the finality of this case,” said Julia Olson, an attorney for the plaintiffs at Our Children’s Trust.
The Department of Justice, which defended the case across three presidential administrations, welcomed the Court’s decision, with Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson stating that it “brings this long saga to a conclusion.”
While many lawsuits filed by Our Children’s Trust have faced challenges, recent victories have emerged. In December 2023, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that the state’s constitution guarantees the right to a stable climate system. Additionally, in June 2024, Hawaii became the first state to settle with youth plaintiffs, agreeing to decarbonize its transportation system by 2045.
Though the case is now closed, the youth plaintiffs’ efforts have sparked a broader movement aimed at demanding climate justice from governments at every level.
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