Young climate activists sue Trump over fossil fuel orders, citing constitutional environmental rights.

Young climate activists from Our Children's Trust, who won a landmark state climate case in Montana in 2023, are challenging President Trump’s executive orders promoting fossil fuels in federal court. They argue the policies endanger children and violate their constitutional rights by accelerating climate change and undermining renewable energy. The case relies on Montana’s state constitution, which guarantees a "right to a clean and healthful environment"—a provision absent from the U.S. Constitution. Legal experts say the activists face significant hurdles in federal court, where such environmental rights are not explicitly protected. The lawsuit, filed in Missoula, Montana, is being opposed by the U.S. Department of Justice and 19 states, which have asked the court to dismiss it. The plaintiffs, aged seven to 24, plan to testify about climate impacts like wildfires and extreme weather, while the case could influence future climate litigation despite the high legal barriers.