Landmark Climate Trial Ends After Focus on Montana Constitution

The first US youth climate change trial came to a close on Tuesday, ending the latest round of courtroom proceedings that will influence how future challengers will use the legal system to push for emissions reductions.

Attorneys for plaintiffs and the state in the youth climate case Held v. Montana rested their cases in a little over a week of examination into whether the state of Montana violated its constitution by promoting fossil fuel development.

The trial was scheduled for two weeks, but the state concluded its side early after testimony from witnesses, including the director of Montana’s department of ...