Advocacy Groups File Amicus Brief Supporting 21 Young Climate Fighters in Juliana v. U.S.

On Friday the advocacy groups Food & Water Watch, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit an amicus curiae brief in the case of Juliana v. United States, the matter involving 21 young plaintiffs suing the government over inaction on climate change. The brief highlighted the clear legal standing the plaintiffs have demonstrated in the case, based on, among other things, proven harms to the world's oceans as a result of the U.S. government's authorizing and subsidizing of fossil fuel extraction, production, utilization and combustion that results in greenhouse gas emissions.

Today Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter issued the following corresponding statement:

"This groundbreaking legal action gets to the very heart of what the climate fight is all about: a livable, just existence for our youngest generations in the decades to come. The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees every American the rights to life, liberty and property. The government's support for the fossil fuel industry and its encouragement of continued coal, oil and gas burning poses a direct and immediate threat to the continued existence of a livable climate for the human race. This is clearly an attack on life, liberty and property for the youth of America. Simply put, the extraction and burning of fossil fuels is unconstitutional.

"We commend the young plaintiffs in this case for their willingness to stand up and take on entrenched, deep-pocketed power structures in government and the fossil fuel industry. We will continue to provide whatever legal and scientific expertise is necessary to help ensure that justice is done, and fossil fuels are outlawed once and for all."

Additionally, Friends of the Earth Legal Director Marcie Keever issued the following statement:

"The people who imperil our children's future must be held accountable. This includes our own government, whose inaction allowed fossil fuel corporations to destroy our environment and endanger public health. With just a decade left to prevent the worst effects of the climate crisis, we must lead with bold, unapologetic action. We are proud to stand with the next generation as they fight for a future for themselves and our planet."