57thOverlandersAug 15, 2023
Sheril Kirshenbaum
Today a group of remarkable young people in Montana won a landmark lawsuit when a judge ruled that the state’s failure to consider #ClimateChange when approving fossil fuel projects was unconstitutional. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/14/us/montana-youth-climate-ruling.html?unlocked_article_code=XItIeJpyG1NyXp6_DPR0oa-IWSb7zA4xuefMTXzZ4GMt6tFUvyspi_vmGYU8ULXZ1kL3MzHMLyr1y1tV_-F2SEwvphDbXBhoNLkEs7D5ivPX0QA-QkerTdk9obEhymIZiko_vsG_sr_HrtBichdT4C502ZSQ0hy1IlApVF0gPqcGrSMZn0FSKm2IPvkdVLN1T_Io8xQMav3WxNodEmN9_Lw6MLdrTOVOEXOGMLPzpM3eOpGDXJVr9Cizv8GzChPjzI6OG6sJv9AgBwhRjwHUQDRKKNi_3wP5oAYU2EjlzCiiG5v7Jp5PQslPnPUPGaM9mRkXB-2156bygVQzgjupjmxa&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Judge Rules in Favor of Montana Youths in a Landmark Climate Case

The court found that young people have a constitutional right to a healthful environment and that the state must consider potential climate damage when approving projects.

The New York Times
Aug 14, 2023 at 9:38pmMetatext
Show threadMaineAug 14, 2023
@Sheril great work. Just the beginning.
Show threadJames M.Aug 14, 2023
@Sheril wonderful progress! May other judges follow.
Show threadMarie BrennanAug 14, 2023
@Sheril *Very* glad to see a decision that pushes back against the death bet of "well, we won't be around to see the effects of this, so who cares." What happened to trying to leave the world a better place for future generations?
Show threadStephenCAug 14, 2023
@Sheril The oil companies will take this to the High Court 🙄
Show threadSLCW💥Aug 15, 2023
@Sheril Finally, some good news!
Show threadGadfly (-booq-)Aug 15, 2023

@Sheril The important unstated context is that the language they're citing from Montana's consitution that is core to its case, comes from the state rewriting itself a new consitition in 1972 -- the fifth-newest among the states -- and a successful push by environmental activists to get the language included.

https://montanafreepress.org/2020/09/22/shared-state-episode-4-the-quiet-beauty-of-our-state/
(30m)

"""
Nearly 50 years ago, a group of Montanans pushed for strong environmental protections and the right to “a clean and healthful environment.” What they created was groundbreaking. Only about a half-dozen other states recognize environmental rights in their constitutions, and Montana is the only state that calls that right “inalienable.”

...
"""

(Montana's public journalism scene has consistently been absolutely TOP-TIER in work I keep seeing them output, highly recommend.)

Shared State

Montana's constitution guarantees a "clean and healthful environment. How is that playing out in the U.S. Senate race?

Montana Free Press
Show threadSchreibmaxAug 15, 2023
@Sheril Hats off to the young people, and to the judges.
Still, I‘m not about to hold my breath until the decision has a measurable impact. Got some nagging feeling Montana will jury rig any consideration such that the ecological impact is neglected.