Supreme Court Ends Youth-Led Climate Change Lawsuit

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the revival of a lawsuit by 21 youth activists claiming the government's energy policies violate their rights, marking the end of the prominent Juliana v. United States case. Despite legal setbacks, the case has inspired a broader movement for climate rights among youth.

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by 21 young activists seeking to reignite a lawsuit against the federal government's energy policies. The decision marks the conclusion of the significant Juliana v. United States case, which argued that these policies breach their constitutional rights to be shielded from climate change.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled that the courts lack the authority to dictate remedies for climate change, suggesting that such actions are best handled by the legislative and executive branches. The case was remanded to the Oregon district judge, who initially permitted an attempt to amend the complaint, but this was overturned in May 2024 by a panel of the 9th Circuit.

Despite this setback, the case has left a lasting impact, galvanizing a broader youth-led movement for climate rights. Some success has been observed at state levels, with Montana's Supreme Court recognizing climate rights and Hawaii's unique settlement aiming to decarbonize its transportation system by 2045.

(With inputs from agencies.)