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Oregon judge to decide on kids’ climate change lawsuit

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Oregon judge to decide on kids’ climate change lawsuit
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Oregon judge to decide on kids’ climate change lawsuit
Hazel Van Ummersen, 11, left, Kelsey Julianna, 20, and Avery McRae, 10, join other plaintiffs as they walk down the steps of the U.S. Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon, on Tuesday after a hearing regarding their lawsuit against the Federal Government regarding issues of climate change before U.S. Judge Ann Aiken. (Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard via AP)

Associated Press

EUGENE, Ore. — A federal judge in Eugene, Oregon, is considering arguments about whether a lawsuit brought by a group of children and a leading climate scientist can go forward.

The lawsuit seeks to require federal officials to drastically reduce carbon emissions, but the defendants say emissions policies should be decided by lawmakers and federal agencies, not courts. U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken conducted a two-hour hearing Tuesday and is expected to issue a ruling by November.

She could adopt, reject or modify an earlier ruling by another federal judge who found the case should go to trial.

The plaintiffs’ lawsuit alleges the government has failed to phase out greenhouse gas emissions.

The plaintiffs include 21 youths who were between 8 and 19 when the suit was filed last year.

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