In a country controlled by the gerontocracy, many of whose members are still anchored in the age of coal and toxic dumping, America’s teenagers are looking for ways to make themselves heard in the face of the danger that threatens the his future
I Accuse, written by Émile Zola to denounce the injustice of the Dreyfus case in France in 1898, has now been updated in the 21st century before the court in Helena, capital of Montana. This is where the trial is held these days for the matter “the young people accuse” given the inaction of the authorities to combat the effects of the environmental crisis.
Grace Gybson-Snyder, 19, assured the court this week that the smoke from the fires had aggravated the already deteriorated atmosphere due to the climate emergency. This had been “a definitive experience” when I played soccer (European football) in high school. He explained that the smoke regularly surrounded his city with an unhealthy air. This forced many days to cancel training and meant that teammates with asthma could not go out on the pitch.
“It’s not nice”, he emphasized. “It becomes something uncomfortable when you take a deep breath,” he added in the oral hearing that began this Monday.
Grace is part of a group of 16 high school students who filed a complaint in 2020 (Held v. Montana). This lawsuit is considered to be the first constitutional climate trial to take place in the United States.
Environmental activists hope the lawsuit will spur change in a state that maintains a friendly alliance with fossil fuels.
The complainants alleged that state officials have violated their constitutional right to a healthy environment. “We ask the Government and the judiciary to do their job and protect us, as well as the rest of the citizens. It’s an opportunity for our state to become a leader in the preservation, safety, beauty and prosperity of Montana,” Grace emphasized.
The road has not been easy. State officials saw the danger and tried to downplay Montana’s contribution to global warming before the trial.
This oral hearing is being closely watched for possible legal precedents, even though the scope of the complaint has been cut in previous resolutions. It is expected to last a couple of weeks. The young people want to persuade Judge Kathy Seeley of the State’s loyalty to fossil fuels, an issue that endangers their health, their lifestyle, and threatens future generations.
“We know they are listening to us. We have the opportunity to tell our story. I look forward to a change towards a better environmental policy and a healthier future for all of us”, he stressed.
She and her colleagues are pioneers. This case is the first of a dozen similar allegations that must go to trial.
Even if it sets a precedent, experts don’t see it as likely to prompt an immediate overhaul of existing policies in Montana.
State agencies have never denied a permit for fossil fuel projects, and lawmakers recently passed regulations favoring the oil, gas and coal industry over renewables.
