Ten young climate activists sued the state of Utah on Monday over its recent approval of fossil fuel projects that they say violate their constitutional rights to life, health and safety.
The lawsuit comes months after the Utah Supreme Court rebuffed a similar youth-led climate lawsuit that was filed by many of the same plaintiffs. It targeted Utah’s broader energy policy, prompting the court at the time to instruct the youth to narrow their arguments by challenging “the constitutionality of any specific state action.” The new lawsuit notes “they do so here.”
The new complaint names several state permitting agencies and argues that Utah regulators have “continued to issue permits for unnecessary fossil fuel development, worsening Utah’s air pollution and climate crisis, and harming plaintiffs’ health, safety, and longevity in violation of their fundamental rights.”
The complaint notes that although the Supreme Court wrote it would be in the “public’s best interest to phase out” fossil fuel development, the state has issued 364 permits for new oil and gas wells and one permit for coal development since the high court’s ruling in March.
