Bay Area youth who grew up with the climate movement celebrate landmark Montana case

Amid the wildfires in Maui and record heat waves, the Montana case brings hope in a movement that has seen major setbacks in recent years

Myroslava Fisun, 17, had always desired a place at the table. Whether it was pollution in the San Francisco air or plastic in the water, she was terrified of the effects of climate change. She, on the other hand, was not going to let her fear stop her from fighting to save the planet.

“It was difficult to connect with organizations as a young person because they were like, ‘Oh, but do you have the 10-plus years of professional experience?'” Fisun told the story. “And it’s like,’No, but I’m still an environmentalist.'”

Fisun is relieved — and energized — after Montana District Court Judge Kathy Seeley ruled Monday in a historic youth-led Montana lawsuit that the state’s approval of fossil fuel projects violated their right to a “clean and healthy environment.”

“Now that young people are influencing policy, and policy around climate is starting to happen, I want to see more of it,” said the UC Berkeley student and Albany resident.

The victory in Montana, the first of its kind in the United States, comes amid devastating wildfires in Maui and record global heat waves, both of which are threatening crop yields in the United States and elsewhere. It has reaffirmed Bay Area youth’s concerns about the future and validated their work in a youth-led movement that has not seen many victories in recent years. It has also emphasized the importance of collective action and demonstrated that there are legal avenues through which they can advocate for the policies they desire.

Aaditi Lele, a 20-year-old Cupertino climate activist, first became involved in the movement when she was about 15 years old. She became interested in lobbying elected officials after learning about the forced displacement of communities as a result of climate disaster. Lele is now the policy director at Zero Hour, a youth-led climate justice nonprofit, where she previously worked with Our Children’s Trust, the law firm that represented the plaintiffs in the Montana case.

She was “absolutely elated” when she learned of the victory in Montana.

“I think it’s a really important moment in this sort of litigation, and just in the youth climate movement in general,” Lele said. “It was really exciting to see that there is this legal momentum that now, on paper, from the authority of a judge, affirms that we have the right to hold our elected officials, our governments accountable.”

Lele also emphasized the Montana case’s “mental and emotional affirmation” for youth who have grown up witnessing the effects of climate change on their communities.

“We’ve grown up constantly watching news about climate change, constantly worrying about climate change, and it being like an everyday part of our lives for a number of years,” Lele said, noting that much of the youth-led climate movement has shifted from protests only to protests and policy work. “And so, as we’ve grown up through that movement, the strategies, the amount of urgency we feel, the amount of frustration we feel has been carried with us, and I think that really shows in the movement.”

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s spokesperson, Emily Flower, stated that the state will appeal the case. “This ruling is absurd, but not surprising from a judge who let the plaintiffs’ attorneys put on a weeklong taxpayer-funded publicity stunt that was supposed to be a trial,” Flower said.

While Lele considers the appeal “frustrating,” she also believes “it’s nothing the movement hasn’t seen before.”

“There is always pushback from legislators and from people in power,” Lele explained. “I’m certain that the attorneys and plaintiffs will be able to respond.”

Jamie Minden, 20, who grew up in Sunnyvale and works as the global organizing director for Zero Hour, believes that the Montana case will eventually be heard by the United States Supreme Court.

“I know that the people who are working on this case are extremely dedicated,” she said, emphasizing that the Montana plaintiffs “have grown up with this fight their entire lives.”

Minden also hopes that the victory will encourage more people to join the climate movement, which she believes has waned in popularity over the last four years.

“I think it’s like a dam about to burst because the types of crises that have been happening are only going to get worse,” Minden said. “I believe we’re approaching a tipping point in terms of getting actual legislation passed…As a result, I would strongly advise people not to give up and to get involved in organizing. It’s extremely rewarding and makes you feel less alone.”