Federal Government Likely to be Sued by a Bunch of Kids

April 14, 2016

A couple of kids suing the federal government may seem like a joke to some, however, there is a case that has garnered considerable attention. This case is now much closer to a trial because a federal judge has approved it. The core of the matter is that the kids believe that the government is damaging the environment by allowing extraction of harmful fossil fuels on public lands.

Federal Government Defense Rejected

The government fossil fuels groups requested the court to let go of the case but their request was denied by Judge Thomas Coffin. The case is filed by twenty one youngsters between the ages of 8-19 who claim that the government is making a mess of the planet and it will harm the future generations worse than ever. The case which has been called as one of the most significant cases of the US history is another step closer to the trial now.

Another Hurdle

Though the major hurdle has been crossed, there is one more that remains. This hurdle is a review that is to be done by another judge. Most of the supporters of the case believe that the hurdle that has already been passed was the major one and they are hopeful of not facing any trouble in passing the review.

A Victory

It is a known fact that the case is still far away from completion but a major part of the victory for the children is the growing media attention. They have compelled people to think about climate change differently.

The case also highlights that the upcoming generations are being discriminated against as far as the U.S. propagation of climate change is concerned. They are the ones who will deal with climate issues such as heat waves, droughts, floods, rising seas, extinctions, and yet, they have no say in the political system that is continually leasing federal properties for extracting fossil fuels and increasing pollution.

The Agenda

The agenda of the entire case is to push the federal government to come up with a great plan to deal with climate change. The solutions that have been suggested by the government are not enough to meet the goal of helping the world stop warming at less than 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial levels. Another vital step that is required is to get rid of all the fossil fuels by 2050.