Delta Murner is with a union of concerned scientists. The lawsuit was filed by 16 young people from Montana who are concerned about their rights to a safe and healthy environment. They argue that Montana's reliance on fossil fuels is damaging important natural resources such as atmosphere, rivers, lakes, fish, and wildlife. In mid-June, a constitutional US climate case brought by young people went to trial, held versus Montana.
The last several years have seen a big increase in the number of lawsuits focused on the climate crisis. Some lawsuits challenge governments for their support for fossil fuels and for their failure to take climate action, while other cases target the fossil fuel companies themselves for knowingly misleading the world about the climate disrupting impacts of burning their products. Some of these cases seek monetary damages, others seek to hold governments accountable to their emissions reduction pledges. As more of these cases get their time in court, how powerful can litigation be in forcing action around the climate emergency?
Guests:
Delta Merner, Lead Scientist, Science Hub for Climate Litigation, Union of Concerned Scientists
Korey Silverman-Roati, Senior Fellow, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School
Lucy Maxwell, Co-Director, Climate Litigation Network, Urgenda Foundation
For show notes and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/watch-and-listen/podcasts
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