News brief

Montana court rules state violated environment. Montana’s Supreme Court upheld a landmark climate ruling Dec. 19 that said the state was violating residents’ constitutional right to a clean environment by permitting oil, gas, and coal projects without regard for global warming. The justices, in a 6-1 ruling, upheld an August 2023 decision by a state judge. That decision was considered a breakthrough by young environmentalists and their attorneys to use the courts to leverage action on climate change. The justices found unconstitutional a policy that prevented Montana from considering the effect of greenhouse gases when issuing permits for fossil fuel development.

Do children have a right to a healthy climate? Montana case is a test.