Democrats challenge Biden's opposition to youth climate lawsuit
Congressional Democrats are calling out the Biden administration for its efforts to derail a pivotal youth-led climate lawsuit.
Lesley Clark reports for E&E News.
In short:
- A group of 29 Democratic Congress members and Sen. Bernie Sanders urges the Biden administration to halt its attempts to dismiss the Juliana v. United States climate case.
- They argue this legal battle is crucial for young Americans seeking to protect their constitutional rights against government inaction on climate change.
- The Department of Justice's actions to prevent the case from going to trial are deemed unprecedented and a silencing of youth advocacy for environmental justice.
Key quote:
"As decades of evidence in the record show, the political branches predominantly choose short-term economic gains rather than face the difficult task of solving the issue of climate change head-on."
— Congressional Democrats in an amicus brief
Why this matters:
Young voters have become a crucial demographic for the Democratic Party, often championing more radical solutions to climate change. Seeing the administration oppose a lawsuit that embodies their fears and hopes for the future might lead to disillusionment or decreased enthusiasm among these younger supporters, potentially affecting voter turnout and support.
Plaintiffs in Held vs Montana argue that: “We are entitled to a ‘clean and healthful’ environment. Montana’s policies are endangering that.”
