A federal judge on Wednesday rejected a lawsuit filed by young climate activists aimed at halting President Donald Trump’s executive orders endorsing fossil fuels and discouraging renewable energy. U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen acknowledged the significant impact of climate change on the plaintiffs and its likely exacerbation due to Trump’s directives. However, Christensen deemed the activists’ plea for judicial intervention as impractical, stating that it falls outside the judiciary’s jurisdiction to establish environmental policies.
The group of 22 plaintiffs, including youths who previously won a climate lawsuit against Montana in 2023, voiced their concerns during a recent hearing in Missoula. They highlighted the detrimental effects of Trump’s pro-drilling and anti-renewable energy actions on children and the environment. Concurrently, a United Nations agency reported a record surge in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, intensifying climate change and amplifying extreme weather conditions.
Legal analysts noted the uphill battle faced by the young activists represented by Our Children’s Trust in the federal case. While the Montana state constitution guarantees the right to a clean environment, such provisions are absent in the U.S. Constitution. The White House hailed the court’s decision as a win for the administration and its pursuit of energy dominance through increased fossil fuel production.
Christensen, in a detailed ruling, explained that granting the activists’ injunction would essentially revert to the environmental policies of the previous administration, necessitating a review of all climate-related actions since Trump assumed office. This, according to the judge, is an unfeasible demand. The activists plan to challenge the ruling, asserting that the ongoing enforcement of Trump’s orders poses irreparable harm to their well-being and future.
Despite recognizing the harm caused by government directives favoring fossil fuels, the judge cited legal constraints in addressing the issue. Notably, a similar climate lawsuit by Our Children’s Trust in Oregon faced years of litigation before being declined by the Supreme Court. The dismissal of the Montana case was supported by the U.S. Department of Justice and numerous states, with Montana’s Attorney General applauding the upholding of the rule of law.
The ruling affirms that only a handful of states have constitutional environmental protections, with Montana recently reaffirming a trial outcome necessitating closer scrutiny of climate-warming emissions. However, substantial changes in environmental policies remain limited in the state’s predominantly Republican landscape.
