Of all states, the Montana Supreme Court just set a historical record regarding a constitutional "climate change" issue that was originated by a group of 16 young people.

According to reports, the state's high court ruled in a 6-1 decision in favor of the group of young climate change activists, who argued that they deserve a healthy environment that they feel is owed to them at the level of a constitutional right. 

The state Supreme Court's ruling affirmed their "fundamental constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment."

Two state laws, one passed in 2011 and another in 2023, that rolled back the environmental review process for new projects are part of what contributed to the lawsuit.

What's going on?

Montana is known as an energy-friendly state, namely regarding fossil fuels. It's governor in 2023 signed a law that "forbids environmental review of energy permits from evaluating potential greenhouse gas pollution or climate impact."

However, both of the aforementioned laws were squashed in the high court's ruling, citing the state's greenhouse gas pollution as "a substantial factor in causing climate impacts to Montana's environment, and harm and injury to the youth plaintiffs."

The outlet noted:

In court, the youth plaintiffs illustrated the profound effects of climate change on their daily lives. They described worsening wildfires and smoke polluting the air they breathe, drought and decreased rainfall diminishing mountain snowpack, and low river levels unable to sustain fish, wildlife, recreation, and Indigenous traditions.

Melissa Hornbein, the plaintiffs' attorney, said the ruling will force state officials to "carefully assess the greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts of all future fossil fuel permits."

The article went on to highlight what it perceives as consequences of "dirty energy," though each point could easily be disputed.

Plaintiffs in the case released a statement celebrating the state Supreme Court's landmark ruling.

Statement released

Roger Sullivan, an attorney who represented the plaintiffs, released a statement cheering the high court for landing where it did.

"I was really pleased to see that the Montana Supreme Court grounded its analysis of harm in the testimony of the youth plaintiffs," Sullivan said.

He added, "I was pleased to see they got both the harm these youth plaintiffs are experiencing, the cause of it as a result of fossil fuels being collected and combusted, and that Montana is one of the actors in this global phenomenon."

Only time will tell how the ruling ultimately interferes with the renewed quest for American energy independence under President Donald Trump.