A group of youth plaintiffs between the ages of eight and seventeen filed a climate lawsuit against the state of Wisconsin. The lawsuit argues that several key pieces of Wisconsin energy policy are unconstitutional under the state constitution – violating the plaintiff’s rights to life, liberty, and a stable climate system. Specifically, the Complaint identifies the following policies as violating these rights:
“Plaintiffs challenge laws that prohibit the Commission from considering or using air pollution as a basis for denying permits to new fossil fuel-fired power plants. Plaintiffs also challenge laws that set a ceiling on the amount of renewable electricity generation the Commission can require electric providers to supply, with no exceptions.”
The case is similar to others brought by youth plaintiffs in Montana and Hawaii. The Montana case marked a major victory for climate plaintiffs at the trial level, which was appealed by the attorney general and affirmed by the state’s supreme court. The Hawaii case ended with the state government settling the case. The Hawaii Department of Transportation is required to develop a plan for reaching net-zero emissions across land, sea, and air transportation by 2045 under the settlement. Cases like these are important to keep on our radar. While the rulings may only affect state governments directly, when states are forced to alter their energy policies, companies are often impacted.
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