A group of 16 youth climate activists sued the state of Montana for failing to protect their constitutional right to “a clean and healthful environment.”
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00:00A group of 16 young people sued the state of Montana for not doing enough to stop climate
00:04change, and the ruling could come any day. So what was the group's arguments,
00:07and what could it mean for future cases? Brute can explain in less than 60 seconds.
00:11The group argued that Montana lawmakers' continued support of the fossil fuel industry
00:15is in direct opposition to the state's constitution, which says that the state
00:19and each person will maintain and improve a helpful and clean environment in the state
00:23of Montana for present and future generations. According to the 16 plaintiffs, the state's
00:28dependence on and production of coal is a direct violation to that right of a clean
00:33and helpful environment. They also asked the state government to declare that Montana's
00:36fossil fuel energy policies and actions violate young people's state constitutional rights.
00:42The trial was the first of its kind in the country and came to a close earlier this week.
00:46The judges expected to make her ruling soon, and the decision could indicate how things are
00:50going to go for similar lawsuits pending in four states. Climate advocates, however,
00:55are hopeful the case inspires more litigation, regardless of the outcome.