MONTANA, USA | The Montana Supreme Court has upheld a ruling in favor of 16 young activists who sued the state over its energy policies, arguing they violated their constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment. This landmark case, based on Montana’s constitutional clause protecting environmental rights, is the first of its kind to reach the state’s Supreme Court.

In 2023, the youth plaintiffs, aged 5 to 22, filed a lawsuit claiming Montana’s energy policies prioritized fossil fuel development without addressing environmental consequences. They argued that this violated a state constitutional provision ensuring a clean environment for current and future generations.

Montana’s constitution, adopted in 1972, uniquely requires the state to maintain and improve a healthy environment. This clause became the foundation of the plaintiffs’ case.

The court upheld the lower court’s decision, affirming that the state’s failure to consider environmental impacts in its energy policies was unconstitutional. The ruling emphasized the plaintiffs’ right to a clean environment and recognized the ongoing harm caused by climate change.

The decision requires Montana to address environmental impacts in its energy policies. The plaintiffs’ legal team described the ruling as a step toward more sustainable energy practices.

However, state officials, including Governor Greg Gianforte, expressed concerns about the decision’s impact on taxpayers and energy costs. The governor has announced plans to review the ruling further.

The Montana case is part of a growing trend of youth-led climate lawsuits in the U.S. and worldwide. Similar cases are pending in states like Hawaii, Utah, and Alaska, as well as countries like Australia, Pakistan, and Uganda where the right to a clean and healthy environment has already been adjudicated upon.