{"id":2080061,"date":"2025-09-11T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/?post_type=article&#038;p=2080061"},"modified":"2025-09-11T08:58:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T12:58:17","slug":"climate-activists-lawsuits-trump-energy-policies-fossil-fuels-violate-rights","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/climate-activists-lawsuits-trump-energy-policies-fossil-fuels-violate-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate Activists Cite Health Hazards in Bid To Stop Trump From \u2018Unleashing\u2019 Fossil Fuels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>HELENA, Mont. \u2014 In 2023, a group of 16 young Montanans won a much-heralded climate change case that said the state had deprived them of a \u201cclean and healthful environment,\u201d a right enshrined in Montana\u2019s constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"block--sidebar alignright \">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kaiser-health-news-partner block--partner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"partner__image--link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/health\/article\/youth-climate-lawsuit-trump-21027636.php\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"partner__image\" src=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/08\/san-fran-chronicle.jpg?w=120\" alt=\"Partner logo\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"partner__content\">\n\t\tThis story also ran on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/health\/article\/youth-climate-lawsuit-trump-21027636.php\">San Francisco Chronicle<\/a>. It can be <a href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/climate-activists-lawsuits-trump-energy-policies-fossil-fuels-violate-rights\/view\/republish\/\">republished for free<\/a>.\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p>Their victory in <em><a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/cases\/montana\/supreme-court\/2024\/da-23-0575-0.html\">Held v. Montana<\/a><\/em>, later upheld by the state Supreme Court, resounded across the country, showing that young people have a stake in the issue of climate change, advocates say. Yet, state policies to address the causes of climate change in Montana \u2014 home to large coal, oil, and natural gas deposits \u2014 haven\u2019t changed in the wake of the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Sept. 17, some of those plaintiffs are scheduled to appear in federal court to request that U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen block a series of President Donald Trump\u2019s executive orders on energy issues. They argue the orders violate their Fifth Amendment rights and will cause nearly 200,000 additional deaths over the next 25 years and lead to more heart, respiratory, and other health problems. They are joined by other plaintiffs ages 7 to 24 from California, Florida, Hawaii, and Oregon, and are backed by the climate-focused nonprofit Our Children\u2019s Trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTrump\u2019s fossil fuel orders are a death sentence for my generation,\u201d Eva Lighthiser, a 19-year-old resident of Livingston, Montana, wrote in the complaint filed on May 29. \u201cI am not suing because I want to, I am suing because I have to. My health, my future and my right to speak the truth are all on the line.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She added that a warming climate has led to an increase in summer wildfire smoke and contributed to the flooding of the Yellowstone River (a warmer atmosphere holds more precipitation). At the heart of the case, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourchildrenstrust.org\/lighthiser-v-trump\">Lighthiser v. Trump<\/a><\/em>, is the claim that young people are being denied their Fifth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution \u2014 life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness \u2014 because of the health effects of fossil fuel development and climate change. And they say the Montana Supreme Court\u2019s decision in December to uphold their right to a clean and healthful environment buttresses their claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3648\" height=\"2432\" src=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of Eva Lighthiser standing outside for a portrait.\" class=\"wp-image-2080734\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg 3648w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=500,333 500w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=1270,847 1270w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=770,513 770w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=840,560 840w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=720,480 720w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=570,380 570w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=370,247 370w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=270,180 270w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=170,113 170w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=100,67 100w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=120,80 120w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=1170,780 1170w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=200,134 200w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=315,210 315w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=630,420 630w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_02.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3648px) 100vw, 3648px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eva Lighthiser is the lead plaintiff in <em>Lighthiser v. Trump<\/em>. \u201cTrump\u2019s fossil fuel orders are a death sentence for my generation,\u201d she wrote in the lawsuit. \u201cI am not suing because I want to, I am suing because I have to.\u201d<span class=\"photo-credit\">(Tess Dana\/Our Children\u2019s Trust)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, a Republican, along with 18 other states and Guam, a U.S. territory, have sided with the Trump administration, filing a motion supporting the government\u2019s request to dismiss the case. They argue the plaintiffs do not have standing to file the lawsuit, and that there is no constitutional right to a specific energy policy. \u201cThe state of Montana has an interest in this case because it will directly impact the business done in the energy sector within its borders,\u201d Knudsen argued in his motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A hearing on the motion to dismiss, as well as the plaintiffs\u2019 call for a stay of the executive orders, is scheduled for next week in federal court in Missoula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Olivia Vesovich, 21, one of the plaintiffs, who is in her senior year at the University of Montana in Missoula, told KFF Health News she struggles with severe spring pollen allergies, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/full\/10.1126\/sciadv.abd7658\">research shows<\/a> are exacerbated by climate warming and will likely worsen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy eyes were swollen shut every single day, every single night,\u201d Vesovich said. \u201cWhen I wake up in the morning, I couldn\u2019t open my eyes for 10 minutes. It\u2019s not fun at all, and it\u2019s exacerbated by climate change and by the fossil fuel industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"wp-block block--newsletter  \"\n\tdata-type=\"kaiser-health-news\/newsletter\"\n\tdata-align=\"center\"\n\tstyle=\"\"\n>\n\t<h4 class=\"newsletter__title\">\n\t\t<a href=\"\/email\/\">\n\t\t\tEmail Sign-Up\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/h4>\n\t<p class=\"newsletter__description\">\n\t\tSubscribe to KFF Health News&#039; free Morning Briefing.\t<\/p>\n\t\n<form\n\taction=\"\/email-signup\/\"\n\tclass=\"kaiser-hubspot-mini-signup-form\"\n\tmethod=\"post\"\n>\n\t<input type=\"hidden\" id=\"kaiser_hubspot_nonce\" name=\"kaiser_hubspot_nonce\" value=\"dc9818bd64\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/2080061\" \/>\t\t\t\t<label\n\t\tclass=\"kaiser-hubspot-mini-signup-form__label--email\"\n\t\tfor=\"kaiser-hubspot-mini-signup-form-email\"\n\t>\n\t\t<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">\n\t\t\tYour Email Address\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<input\n\t\t\tautocomplete=\"email\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"kaiser-hubspot-mini-signup-form__input--email\"\n\t\t\tid=\"kaiser-hubspot-mini-signup-form-email\"\n\t\t\tname=\"kaiser_hubspot_email\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaceholder=\"Your email address\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t<\/label>\n\t<button class=\"kaiser-hubspot-mini-signup-form__submit\">\n\t\tSign Up\t<\/button>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>She also has exercise-induced asthma as well as feelings of suffocation from the smoke-filled skies during wildfire season \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/explore\/wildfires-and-climate-change\/\">the intensity and frequency<\/a> of which are magnified by climate change. And Trump\u2019s executive orders are already being implemented and causing harm, Vesovich said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are making an argument that Olivia\u2019s state constitutional right to a safe climate system should also be protected under the federal Fifth Amendment as part of her liberty right,\u201d said Andrea Rodgers, a senior attorney for Our Children\u2019s Trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our Children\u2019s Trust was also behind the climate change case <em>Juliana v. the United States<\/em>, filed in 2015 by 21 young plaintiffs who argued their rights had been violated. In 2024, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/supreme-court-youth-climate-lawsuit-b90f095046663da0e693b6f2fc46e71e\">ordered the federal district court<\/a> to dismiss the case, ruling that the courts were not the appropriate venue for climate policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They believe the victory in <em>Held v. Montana<\/em> gives American youth more standing this time. If they prevail, the result would be more far-reaching than the Montana case, creating a national precedent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"5352\" height=\"3568\" src=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of Olivia Vesovich posing in front of a courthouse.\" class=\"wp-image-2080738\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg 5352w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=500,333 500w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=1270,847 1270w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=770,513 770w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=840,560 840w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=720,480 720w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=570,380 570w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=370,247 370w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=270,180 270w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=170,113 170w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=100,67 100w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=120,80 120w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=1170,780 1170w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=200,134 200w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=315,210 315w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=630,420 630w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/ClimateHealth_03.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 5352px) 100vw, 5352px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Olivia Vesovich says her allergies and asthma are exacerbated by the effects of climate change.<span class=\"photo-credit\">(Tess Dana\/Our Children\u2019s Trust)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare Trump\u2019s three related executive orders \u2014 \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/unleashing-american-energy\/\">Unleashing American Energy<\/a>,\u201d \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/declaring-a-national-energy-emergency\/\">Declaring a National Energy Emergency<\/a>,\u201d and \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/04\/reinvigorating-americas-beautiful-clean-coal-industry-and-amending-executive-order-14241\/\">Reinvigorating America\u2019s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry<\/a>\u201d \u2014 unconstitutional and to block their implementation. They also claim that Trump has overstepped his authority by attempting to undo laws such as the Clean Air Act. A coalition of 14 states\u2019 attorneys general has also filed a lawsuit against the order that declares an energy emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trump came into office in January <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/07\/22\/republicans-free-market-energy-00465122\">primed to support traditional energy<\/a> sources and to back off efforts to usher in an era of renewable energy, which he claims are not viable. He has also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.actonclimate.com\/trumptracker\/\">issued orders<\/a> rolling back environmental regulations. \u201cWe are driving a dagger into the heart of the climate change religion to drive down the cost of living for American families, unleash American energy, bring auto jobs back to the U.S., and more,\u201d Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a March news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In July, the EPA proposed repealing its 2009 \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-05\/documents\/federal_register-epa-hq-oar-2009-0171-dec.15-09.pdf\">endangerment finding<\/a>\u201d that concluded climate-warming gases \u201cendanger both the public health and the public welfare of current and future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The finding established that greenhouse gases are a pollutant and create adverse effects, such as extreme weather and risks to human health and ecosystems. And it created a foundation to regulate automobiles and the energy sector to address climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zeldin said that eliminating the rule <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/newsreleases\/epa-releases-proposal-rescind-obama-era-endangerment-finding-regulations-paved-way\">would save Americans \u201c$1 trillion or more in hidden taxes.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unleashing fossil fuels will come with costs, as well. The health effects of a warming world are thoroughly established <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ipcc.ch\/report\/ar6\/syr\/downloads\/report\/IPCC_AR6_SYR_LongerReport.pdf\">in scientific literature<\/a>, said Kristie Ebi, a University of Washington professor of global health and an expert in the health risks of climate variability. Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and malaria are spreading, and flooding, droughts, and wildfire, exacerbated by climate change, pose threats. And research has shown an increase in deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s a long list of adverse health outcomes\u201d from a warming world, she said. \u201cThe data are clear.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Buoyed by a Montana court ruling upholding state residents\u2019 right to a \u201cclean and healthful environment,\u201d nearly two dozen people ages 7 to 24 hope to block the Trump administration\u2019s executive orders on energy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2080731,"template":"","meta":{"_cr_original_post":"","_cr_replace_post_id":"","_cr_replacing_post_id":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"kff_featured_video":0,"kff_show_featured_video":false,"kff_show_mute_audio_button":false,"custom_shortlink":"\/MjA4MDA2MQ","kaiser_health_news_byline_override":"","kaiser_health_news_can_republish":true,"kaiser_health_news_featured_image_caption":"","kaiser_health_news_header_overlay_color":"","kaiser_health_news_header_theme_slug":"","kaiser_health_news_hero_image":0,"kaiser_health_news_backdrop_padding":115,"kaiser_health_news_hide_partner":false,"kaiser_health_news_kicker":"","kaiser_health_news_kicker_background_color":"","kaiser_health_news_kicker_text_color":"","kaiser_health_news_kicker_url":"","kaiser_health_news_nav_theme_slug":"compact","kaiser_health_news_nav_transparency":false,"kaiser_health_news_sharing_title":"","kaiser_health_news_show_featured_image":true,"kaiser_health_news_subheadline":"","kaiser_health_news_suppress_kicker":false,"kaiser_health_news_suppress_subheadline":false,"kaiser_health_news_update_time":"","kaiser_health_news_vertical_image":0,"kaiser_health_news_title_align_left":false,"kaiser_health_news_custom_header_image":0,"photo_byline":[],"story_update":"","update_position":"bottom","kaiser_syndication_sites":[],"apple_news_api_created_at":"2025-09-11T09:10:57Z","apple_news_api_id":"c46b88c0-b4e7-4137-825a-19d95a1c8321","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2025-09-11T12:58:23Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AxGuIwLTnQTeCWhnZWhyDIQ","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":["https:\/\/news-api.apple.com\/sections\/20265c01-23d7-4d15-96e0-0691b89c3772"],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[303360169,439525648,31304,36835],"tags":[439528958,439524290,1657,14042,3837,59358,439530184,439524171],"primary-topic":[],"partners":[439524714],"funder":[439527044,439527043],"coauthors":[439527564],"class_list":["post-2080061","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-courts","category-mountain-states-bureau","category-states","category-syndicate","tag-california","tag-environmental-health","tag-florida","tag-hawaii","tag-montana","tag-oregon","tag-state-watch","tag-trump-administration","partners-san-francisco-chronicle","funder-headwaters-foundation","funder-montana-healthcare-foundation"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.9 - 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