TEENS SUE STATE FOR MORE CLIMATE ACTION

Why Teenagers Are Suing States Over Climate Change

Tom Zeller, Jr., April 8,2015 (Forbes)

“…[Two Oregon teens are suing] to force the state to take more aggressive action on climate change and thereby better protect the planet for future generations…The suit is one of dozens of legal actions and petitions filed in virtually every state, along with federal courts, as part of a campaign spearheaded by the Oregon-based nonprofit Our Children’s Trust…The legal actions are predicated on what’s known as the Public Trust Doctrine, a principle of common law that requires governments to protect and maintain certain resources for the benefit of the wider community. The petitioners sponsored by Our Children’s Trust seek to have the atmosphere included as a common resource that governments are obliged to maintain and protect for the public good — both now and for future generations…In [the U.S. Supreme Court, the D.C. District Court, and state courts] the suits have struggled to gain traction…but the Oregon Court of Appeals [affirmed the actions of Olivia Chernaik, now 14, and Kelsey Juliana, now 19], setting up what could be one of the most closely-watched decisions in the campaign so far…” click here for more

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