Native America Calling: Native climate warriors turn to the courts

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Tuesday, October 10, 2023

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Native climate warriors turn to the courts

Young climate activists are zeroing in on environmental protections built into a handful of state constitutions as the basis for lawsuits to combat climate change.

The Montana Supreme Court will soon hear the state’s appeal of a historic court decision that Montanans are entitled to a stable climate. A similar case is underway in Hawaii where Indigenous plaintiffs as young as 13 are suing to protect what they say is their constitutional right to healthy life and future.

We’ll meet with climate activists about a new legal strategy in the face of growing concerns about the future.

Sariel Sandoval at Held v. Montana Trial

Youth climate change plaintiff Sariel Sandoval, 20, testifies in court in Montana on June 14, 2023, as part of a landmark lawsuit seeking to ensure a stable climate for the state. Sandoval hails from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes as well as the Navajo Nation. Photo by Robin Loznak / ZUMApress.com, Courtesy Our Children’s Trust

Guests on Native America Calling

Jordan Harmon (Muskogee Creek Nation), policy analyst and legislative advocate for the Indigenous Environmental Network

Isaac Moriwake, Managing Attorney in the Earthjustice Mid-Pacific regional office in Honolulu, Hawaii