Canadian youths ask court to impose climate protections

· Climate · Canada

A group of Canadian youths asked a court to impose binding climate protections, reviving a lawsuit first filed in 2019. The case was dismissed, but in 2023 an appeals court ruled the youths were entitled to a trial. The plaintiffs argue the government owes them a duty to protect against climate harms. The case is part of a global wave of youth-led climate litigation seeking to force governments to act.

Why it matters：Youth climate litigation is testing whether courts can compel governments to act where legislatures have not.

Key points

  • The lawsuit was first filed in 2019.
  • An appeals court ruled in 2023 that the youths deserved a trial.
  • The plaintiffs seek binding climate protections.

Sources (original reporting)

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