Thirteen children and teenagers in Hawaii took the state to court. About the threats caused by climate change. Now they’re celebrating an agreement that highlights plans to decarbonize Hawaii’s transportation system over the next 20 years.
This is the latest example of frustrated youth in the United States taking their concerns about climate issues to court.
The Navahine v. Hawaii Department of Transportation settlement recognizes children’s constitutional right to a life-sustaining climate, Gov. Josh Green and attorneys from public interest law firms Our Children’s Trust and Earthjustice said in separate statements Thursday.
The teenagers who filed the lawsuit argued that Hawaii is violating the state constitution by operating a transportation system that harms the climate and violates the right to a clean and healthy environment. More specifically, they accused the Hawaii Department of Transportation of continuing to prioritize highway construction over other types of transportation.
Combustion of fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) is the main cause of global warming caused by human activities. According to Our Children’s Trust, Hawaii is the most dependent state in the United States on oil for its energy needs.
Both sides say the agreement is the first between a state and a youth plaintiff to address constitutional issues arising from climate change.
“Climate change is indisputable,” Transportation Commissioner Ed Sniffen said in the governor’s statement. “It is not phono to bury our heads in the sand and make it the problem of the next generation,” that is, it is not right.
Personal frustration, along with greater activism that drove youth climate movements around the world, led to the 2022 lawsuit.
One plaintiff, a 14-year-old Native Hawaiian who grew up in Kaneohe, came from a family that had been growing taro for more than 10 generations, according to the lawsuit. But extreme droughts and heavy rains caused by climate change have reduced crop yields and threatened the ability to continue cultural activities.
The complaint said their land is at risk of being submerged due to rising sea levels.
Provisions of the agreement include developing a greenhouse gas reduction plan within one year of the agreement that lays out a roadmap for decarbonizing Hawaii’s transportation system over the next 20 years.
The provisions also include “immediate and ambitious investments in clean transportation infrastructure,” including investing at least $40 million to complete pedestrian and bicycle networks within five years and expand the public electric vehicle charging network by 2030.
A volunteer youth council will provide advice to the Department for Transport.
Plaintiffs said they found hope in the settlement.
“It is incredibly gratifying and empowering to be heard and move forward in unity with the state to combat climate change,” one plaintiff, identified as Rylee Brooke K., said in a statement.
Elsewhere, youth efforts to pressure state and federal governments have been mixed.
city of honolulu Two lawsuits were filed It accuses major oil and gas companies of engaging in deceptive campaigns and misleading the public about the risks and environmental impacts of fossil fuel products. The oil companies appealed to the Supreme Court to stop the lawsuit from proceeding.
Last May, a federal appeals court panel dismissed a long-running lawsuit brought by young Oregon-based climate activists who claimed the U.S. government’s role in climate change violated their constitutional rights.
Earlier this year, the Montana Supreme Court denied the state’s request to block it. landmark climate ruling Regulators said they must consider the impact of greenhouse gas emissions when issuing fossil fuel development permits while the appeal is pending. The case was brought by a juvenile plaintiff. Oral arguments in the Montana Supreme Court are scheduled for July 10.
