Canadian Court Rules Youth Can Challenge Government on Climate Change, Upholding Constitutional Rights to Life and Security.

Three Canadian justices have ruled that the youth who brought the case are deserving of a trial to determine if Canada is protecting children’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and security of the person. The decision acknowledges climate change’s impact on Canadian youth and its impact on indigenous peoples. The court confirmed the right of these children to challenge Canada’s actions and inactions as causing significant harm to their security. This ruling follows a series of actions by young people against governments across the U.S. In June, Our Children’s Trust brought a case against the State of Montana, which was the first constitutional climate trial in the U., declaring its laws to be unconstitutional. The ruling sets a new legal precedent for the rights of youth and provides meaningful redress for plaintiffs’ injuries.