Learn
AFTERNOON TEA
Let the kids be kids
In Montana, a notable climate court case has finally found its way to the state’s Supreme Court. A 2023 district court ruling in Held v. Montana outrageously determined that 16 young people had been “injured” by Montana’s contribution to climate change. The state has now appealed and several groups led by the Frontier Institute submitted an amicus brief to support overturning the damaging ruling.
The brief states:
- There is no basis Montana caused harm to the kids.
- Climate change is a political issue, not a judicial one.
- Using the judicial system as a political pawn is a direct attack on separation of powers.
This case is just one of several “children’s suits” filed by activists trying to hijack the legal system around the country. Legal weaknesses aside, the real travesty is that the green-at-any-cost crowd is now trying to use our children to push their agenda in the courts.
The constant noise about the supposed impending doom of climate change has already taken a toll on our kids. A 2023 survey found that 59% of youths are very or extremely worried about climate change—67% said they were “sad and afraid” about the issue.
The truth is the U.S. is a world leader in lowering emissions and improving the environment. We’ve made tremendous progress and will continue to do so. Our children deserve to take comfort in that knowledge so that they can do what they do best—be kids.
That’s why The Empowerment Alliance supports the groups working to fight back against this case in Montana and cases like it around the country. If green activists want to help our children, they should be instilling them with hope and helping to build an affordable and safe energy future. Instead, they are using frightened children as pawns in outrageous lawsuits.
For more information on how to build a real energy future for our kids, check out TEA’s Common Sense Energy Agenda.
