politics
Youths sue U.S. government over fossil fuel executive orders
Twenty-three young Americans filed a lawsuit claiming federal executive orders expanding fossil fuel production violate their constitutional rights. The case, dismissed last fall, is now before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
680news.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Eva Lighthiser, 20, and 22 other young Americans filed a lawsuit against the U.S. federal government alleging that executive orders expanding fossil fuel production violate their constitutional rights. The suit, titled Lighthiser v Trump, was dismissed in the fall. The plaintiffs traveled to Portland, Oregon, in April to request reinstatement.
Background of the case Lighthiser began participating in youth climate litigation in 2020 through Our Children’s Trust. She served as a plaintiff in Held v Montana, filed on her 14th birthday, which alleged that state policies favoring fossil fuels violated Montana’s constitutional guarantee of a clean environment.
A Montana court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in 2023. The group is now seeking enforcement of that ruling while pursuing the federal case.
Personal background Lighthiser grew up in Livingston, Montana, where her family experienced repeated flooding linked to climate change. In 2018 and 2022, floods damaged roads and homes, prompting the family to relocate. She said the experience reinforced her view that government policies on fossil fuels affect her future.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Montana, is scheduled to decide whether to reinstate the federal lawsuit in the coming months.
