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Tuesday 23 OcTOber 2018
Young climate activists say their lawsuit should go to trial
By PHUONG LE, Associated from human interference"
Press in the wilderness but fear
SEATTLE (AP) — Young ac- for their safety as wild-
tivists who are suing the fires, mudslides and other
U.S. government in a high- threats grow more severe,
profile climate change The Oregonian/Oregon-
lawsuit say the case poses Live reported .
important constitutional Among those taking part
questions that should be are outdoor adventure
fully evaluated at trial next athlete Will Gadd, who has
week. witnessed melting ice while
The 21 young people issued climbing in conditions that
a response Monday after are much more dangerous
the U.S. Supreme Court now than they were years
temporarily put the trial on ago, the lawsuit said.
hold. Lawyers for the young "Will is harmed by the gov-
people, ages 11 to 22, ar- ernment's actions and inac-
gue that the move "will dis- tions to stem the severity of
rupt the integrity of the ju- climate change because
diciary's role as a check on In this July 18, 2018, file photo, lawyers and youth plaintiffs lineup behind a banner after a hearing he is prevented from rea-
the political branches and before Federal District Court Judge Ann Aiken between lawyers for the Trump Administration and sonably and safely exercis-
the so called Climate Kids in Federal Court in Eugene, Ore. ing his right to wilderness on
Associated Press which he relies for his physi-
will irreparably harm these cal and mental well-being
children." as well as his global status
The trial had been set to as an outdoor adventurer
start Oct. 29 in federal and educator," according
court in Eugene, Oregon. to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit filed in 2015 In the young people's case,
argues that government Justice Department law-
officials have known for yers asked the high court
more than 50 years that to intervene last week
carbon pollution from fossil and end what they called
fuels was causing climate a "profoundly misguided
change and that policies suit." The court temporar-
on oil and gas deprive the ily blocked the trial Friday
young people of life, liberty until the young people re-
and property. sponded and until it issued
They also say the govern- another order.
ment has failed to pro- The government's lawyers
tect natural resources as say the lawsuit aims to re-
a "public trust" for future direct federal environmen-
generations. The lawsuit tal and energy policies
wants a court to order the through the courts rather
government to take action than through the political
to quickly phase out car- process "by asserting a new
bon dioxide emissions to a and unsupported funda-
certain level by 2100 and mental due process right to
develop a national climate certain climate conditions."
recovery plan. Lawyers for the youth dis-
The young people's re- pute that, saying the case
sponse came the same doesn't hinge on a newly
day a group of scientists, recognized fundamen-
nature enthusiasts and tal right. They say the evi-
wildlife advocates filed a dence should be heard
similar climate change law- at trial and that the case
suit in Oregon against the shouldn't be dismissed be-
government. Their argu- fore then. q
ment differs in that they say
they have a fundamental
right to be left alone "free
