At Liberty Podcast
Youth plaintiffs in the climate change lawsuit, Held vs. Montana, pose outside the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse in Helena, Mont., on Monday, June 12, 2023.
At Liberty Podcast

Kids Sued Montana Over Climate Change鈥擧ere鈥檚 How They Won

September 28, 2023

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Last month, a district court judge in Montana ruled in favor of 16 youth plaintiffs in a landmark climate lawsuit. In Held v. Montana, young Montanans ranging from ages 5 to 22 sued the state, arguing that lawmakers have consciously prioritized the development of fossil fuels over the well-being of Montana鈥檚 residents and the protection of natural resources.

This case marks the first time that a U.S. court has declared a government鈥檚 constitutional duty to protect people from climate change. Not only does this case model how young people can engage with the legal system, it also sets precedent for similar lawsuits, proving state constitutions as a viable pathway to scoring seemingly unlikely civil rights victories.

Joining us today is Mat dos Santos, an attorney for Our Children鈥檚 Trust, the legal nonprofit group that brought the case on behalf of the youth, and Claire Vlases, one of the plaintiffs. They鈥檒l explain what it took to get this case off the ground and what implications it could have for the future.

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