By: Callie Gao

A group of 16 people, ages 6 to 22, are suing the U.S. state of Montana. They’re being supported by another group called Our Children’s Trust, who has brought similar cases, but this is the first time it has been taken to trial. The group claimed the reason for this is Montana’s government is that failing to protect the environment by allowing the burning of fossil fuels.

Fossil fuels are formed over thousands of years from decomposed plants and animals. They are usually found in the Earth’s crust. When burned, it can create energy but causes carbon dioxide emissions. Since more carbon is released into the air, there is more energy trapped in the atmosphere. This will cause the global temperature to increase. The young people argue that Montana’s usage of these fossil fuels will increase this climate crisis which makes the lives of future generations even worse.

Nineteen-year-old Plaintiff Grace Gibson-Snyder says, “We’ve seen repeatedly over the last few years what the Montana state Legislature is choosing… They are choosing fossil fuel development. They are choosing corporations over the needs of their citizens.”

In court, the youngsters argue climate change will make it harder to breathe, obtain clean water, and hunting will be harder. Climate change also has a negative impact on the ecosystem as it causes more droughts, wildfires, and changes to the environment’s temperature.

The government says that climate change is happening globally and blaming Montana only isn’t fair. They argue that Montana would not make a difference in the crisis and can only watch the problem spread.

Terry Anderson, a witness for the state and economist, said, “Montana energy or environmental policies have virtually no effect on global or local climate change because Montana’s GHG (greenhouse gas) contributions to the global total is trivial.” He also says the warmer climate will increase the production of crops and growing seasons.

Fossil fuels have been an important source of energy to millions across the world. But Montana is the fifth largest coal producer, and the twelfth largest oil producer in the country. Rikki Held, part of the young group, says “I know that climate change is a global issue… But Montana needs to take responsibility for our part of that.”

Source:

-https://newsforkids.net/articles/2023/06/20/young-people-sue-montana-over-climate-change/

-https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/fossil-fuels/#

-https://fortune.com/2023/06/12/montana-gen-z-climate-activists-sue-state-declaratory-judgment/