In a country controlled by gerontocracy, among whose members there are many still stuck in the era of coal and toxic waste, American teenagers look for a way to make themselves heard in the face of the danger that threatens their future.
The I accuse that Émile Zola wrote to denounce the injustice of the Dreyfus case in France in 1898, has now been updated in the 21st century before the court of Helena, the capital of Montana. The trial is being held here these days for the matter “young people accuse” given the ineffectiveness of the authorities to combat the effects of the environmental crisis.
Grace Gybson-Snyder, 19, claimed in court this week that smoke from the fires had aggravated the already deteriorated atmosphere due to the climate emergency. This had been “a definite experience” playing soccer (European football) in high school. She explained that smoke regularly engulfed her town in an unhealthy air. This forced the cancellation of training sessions on numerous days and prevented teammates with asthma from taking to the pitch.
“It’s not nice,” he stressed. “It becomes somewhat uncomfortable when you take a deep breath,” she added at the oral hearing that began on 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 this lawsuit will spur change in a state that is allied with fossil fuels.
The complainants alleged that state officials violated their constitutional right to a healthy environment. “We ask the government and justice to do their job and protect us, as well as the rest of the citizens. It is an opportunity for our state to become a leader in the preservation, safety, beauty and prosperity of Montana,” Grace said.
The road has not been easy. State officials glimpsed the danger and tried to downplay Montana’s contribution to global warming before coming to trial.
This oral hearing is being closely watched for possible legal precedents, even though the scope of the complaint has been reduced 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 allegiance to fossil fuels, an issue that endangers their health, their lifestyle and threatens generations to come.
After the kick-off session, Grace explained that she felt empowered. “We know that they are listening to us. We have the opportunity to tell our story. I look forward to a shift towards better environmental policy and a healthier future for all of us,” she stressed.
She and her colleagues are pioneers. This case is the first of a dozen similar complaints to go to trial.
While it will set a precedent, experts don’t see it as likely to immediately spur a review of Montana’s current policies.
State agencies have never denied a permit for fossil fuel projects, and lawmakers recently passed regulations that favor the oil, gas, and coal industries over renewables.
