Copyright Watts Up With That
Essay by Eric Worrall h/t rhs; “… while this court is certainly troubled … this concern does not automatically confer … the power to act. …” Judge dismisses suit by young climate activists against Trump’s pro-fossil fuel policies Plaintiffs had ‘overwhelming evidence’ of climate crisis but a court injunction would be ‘unworkable’, ruling says Maya Yang Thu 16 Oct 2025 08.22 AEDT The dismissal by US district judge Dana Christensen on Wednesday came after 22 plaintiffs, ages seven to 25 and from five states, sought to block three of the president’s executive orders, including those declaring a “national energy emergency” and seeking to “unleash American energy” – as well as one aimed at “reinvigorating” the US’s production of coal. … In Wednesday’s ruling, Christensen said that the plaintiffs presented “overwhelming evidence that the climate is changing at a staggering pace, and that this change stems from the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide, caused by the production and burning of fossil fuels”. However, Christensen said: “Yet while this court is certainly troubled by the very real harms presented by climate change and the challenged [executive orders’] effect on carbon dioxide emissions, this concern does not automatically confer upon it the power to act.” He added: “Granting plaintiffs’ injunction would require the defendant agencies, and – ultimately – this court, to scrutinize every climate-related agency action taken since” the start of Trump’s second presidency on 20 January 2025. “In other words, this court would be required to monitor an untold number of federal agency actions to determine whether they contravene its injunction. This is, quite simply, an unworkable request for which plaintiffs provide no precedent,” Christensen continued. … Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/oct/15/youth-climate-activist-lawsuit-dismissed-trump-executive-orders Judge Dana Christensen was appointed by President Obama in 2011. Usually in these kinds of articles we report how Biden or Obama appointed judges issued activist rulings which force the Trump administration to appeal to the Supreme Court for a rapid resolution, so this is a welcome relief from the usual charade. Credit to Judge Christensen for adhering to the law, despite his obvious personal concerns about climate change. But the plaintiffs intend to appeal the decision, so they might get lucky with the next judge. 0 0 votes Article Rating Like this: Like Loading... Discover more from Watts Up With That? Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Welcome to Watts Up With That, one of the most well-known climate blogs! We gather the latest scientific research, news, and expert opinion to help you understand how our planet is changing and what implications it may have for humanity. Our approach is based on facts, objective analysis, and open discussions about one of the most critical issues of our time. Watts up with that climate and what changes await us – let’s figure it out together! Watts Up With That covers a wide range of topics related to climate change and its impact on the world. Here’s what’s important to us: Global warming – its causes, consequences, and future forecasts. Analysis of current climate research and its findings. Climate change news. Extreme weather events – hurricanes, droughts, floods, and their connection to climate change. The impact of different energy sources on the environment and the development of sustainable technologies. Political and economic aspects and how states and international organizations respond to climate change.
