Seattle
WHAT: Judge Hollis Hill will hear another round of oral arguments in the important case brought by seven young Washingtonians to address the Washington Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) persistent refusal to implement science-based carbon pollution limits.
WHEN: Friday, April 29, 2016; Court hearing begins at 9:00 a.m.; please arrive by 8:30 a.m. to secure your seat.
WHERE: King County Courthouse, Courtroom W-941, 516 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington
WHY: Youth head back to Judge Hollis Hill’s courtroom after Ecology withdrew its proposed rule to reduce carbon emissions in the state. The rule was supposed to remedy the lawsuit brought by the seven youth petitioners against the state of Washington, in which Judge Hill declared “[the youths’] very survival depends upon the will of their elders to act now, decisively and unequivocally, to stem the tide of global warming…before doing so becomes first too costly and then too late.”
The postponement of the Clean Air Rule by Ecology continues the state’s pattern of aggressively refusing to take any meaningful action on climate despite its recognition (26 years ago) that urgent action is needed. That refusal has now weathered a 2015 court order finding by Judge Hill, that “the scientific evidence is clear that the current rates of reduction mandated by Washington law cannot achieve the GHG reductions necessary to protect our environment and to ensure the survival of an environment in which Petitioners can grow to adulthood safely.”
The seven youth petitioners are represented by Andrea Rodgers of the Western Environmental Law Center. The lawsuit was filed with the help of Our Children’s Trust, an Oregon-based nonprofit orchestrating a global, game-changing, youth-driven legal campaign to establish the right to a healthy atmosphere and stable climate.
Read more about the case here.
Contacts:
Andrea Rodgers, attorney for plaintiffs, 206-296-2851, gro.w1732312642alnre1732312642tsew@1732312642sregd1732312642or1732312642
Julia Olson, Our Children’s Trust, 415-786-4825, gro.t1732312642surts1732312642nerdl1732312642ihcru1732312642o@ail1732312642uj1732312642
Plant-for-the-Planet connects children around the world as Ambassadors for Climate Justice, planting trees, educating the public, influencing decision makers, and now going to court with expert legal guidance. Children inspire children at Academies, free one-day workshops where children ages 8-14 find their voice speaking out for their future and taking action to create a better world.
Our Children’s Trust is a nonprofit organization advocating for urgent emissions reductions on behalf of youth and future generations, who have the most to lose if emissions are not reduced. OCT is spearheading the international human rights and environmental TRUST Campaign to compel governments to safeguard the atmosphere as a “public trust” resource. We use law, film, and media to elevate their compelling voices. Our ultimate goal is for governments to adopt and implement enforceable science-based Climate Recovery Plans with annual emissions reductions to return to an atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration of 350 ppm. www.ourchildrenstrust.org/
The Western Environmental Law Center is a public interest nonprofit law firm. WELC combines legal skills with sound conservation biology and environmental science to address major environmental issues throughout the West. WELC does not charge clients and partners for services, but relies instead on charitable gifts from individuals, families, and foundations to accomplish its mission. www.westernlaw.org
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