First Constitutional Climate Trial in the United States

Youth plaintiffs are cheered on by supporters as they arrive for their second day of trial (Photo by Robin Loznak, courtesy of Our Children's Trust)

UPDATE: The trial has now concluded! Judge Kathy Seeley ruled wholly in favor of the plaintiffs and set critical legal precedent in her decision. You can read her entire decision, which sets for that every extra ton of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere makes the climate crisis worse and disproportionately harms youth, and that Montana's emissions are nationally and globally significant.

We're standing in support of the youth plaintiffs of Held v. Montana, the first constitutional climate change case in the United States. Dr. Lori Byron closed out the second day of proceedings as an expert witness on the harmful effects of climate change on children's' health. This historic trial goes from June 12th - 20th.

The trial, led by sixteen Montana youth plaintiffs, aims to protect Montana's "clean and healthful environment" from the effects of fossil fuel extraction and burning, which the state currently promotes and supports. Article II Section 3 of Montana's constitution guarantees this clean and healthful environment as an "inalienable right," and Article IX Section 1 compels the state to "maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations."

While the trial is the first of it's kind in the U.S., it is proceeded by People vs. Arctic Oil  in the EU, La Rose v. His Majesty the king in Canada, and Jóvenes v. Gobierno de México in Mexico. Similar suits in the Supreme Court (Juliana v. United States), Utah (Natalie R. v. State of Utah), and Virginia (Layla H. v. Commonwealth of Virginia) are awaiting trial, all supported by Our Children's Trust. Learn more and watch the trial live on their website.

MTHPHC tabled at this screening of the short film "Youth v. Gov" shortly before the start of the trial.