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ARTICLE · 26 MARCH 2025

Montana Supreme Court Holds State Constitution Includes Protections Against Climate Change

Jones Day
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Throughout 2024, young Americans from states like Oregon, California, and Hawaii turned to litigation, arguing that court intervention is necessary to protect them from climate change.

United StatesEnvironment
Daniella Einik
Daniella Einik
Victoria G. Petrimoulx
Victoria G. Petrimoulx
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Throughout 2024, young Americans from states like Oregon, California, and Hawaii turned to litigation, arguing that court intervention is necessary to protect them from climate change. The young plaintiffs spearheading these lawsuits saw varying levels of success, ranging from a complete dismissal in the Ninth Circuit case of Juliana v. United States (Case No. 6:15-CV-01517) to a landmark settlement agreement in the Hawaii Circuit Court case of Navahine v. Hawai'i Department of Transportation (Case No. ICCV-22-0000631). However, it was the final days of the year that left the most indelible mark on youth climate litigation.

On December 18, 2024, the Supreme Court of the State of Montana released its highly anticipated decision in the case of Held v. Montana (CDV-2020-307). In a 6-1 ruling detailed in an opinion by Chief Justice Mike McGrath, the court found that the Montana Environmental Policy Act ("MEPA") ran counter to "Montanans' right to a clean and

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