High School Students Sue Federal Gov't Over Global Warming

Hugh Pickens writes "Katherine Ellison reports in the Atlantic that a group of high school students is suing the federal government in U.S. District Court claiming the risks of climate change — dangerous storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, and food-supply disruptions — will threaten their generation absent a major turnabout in global energy policy. 'I think a lot of young people realize that this is an urgent time, and that we're not going to solve this problem just by riding our bikes more,' says 18-year-old Alec Loorz, one of the plaintiffs represented, pro bono, by the Burlingame, California, law firm of former U.S. Republican congressman Paul 'Pete' McCloskey. While skeptics may view the case as little more than a publicity stunt, its implications have been serious enough to attract the time and resources of major industry leaders." (Read more, below.) Pickens continues: "Last month, Judge Wilkins granted a motion to intervene in the case by the National Association of Manufacturers who says the plaintiffs lack standing because their injuries are too speculative and not likely to be reduced by the relief sought. 'At issue is whether a small group of individuals and environmental organizations can dictate through private tort litigation the economic, energy, and environmental policies of the entire nation,' wrote NAM spokesman Jeff Ostermeyer. The plaintiffs contend that they have standing to sue under the 'public trust doctrine,' a legal theory that in past years has helped protect waterways and wildlife. While the adults continue their argument, Loorz says kids his age are much more worried about climate change than many of their parents might imagine. "

Comments

Re:what exactly do they want done...

[vlm]

Given assumption (which may be wrong) climate change causes $1B damage resulting in eventual death of 1M

Scenario 1) do nothing. Result $1B in hole results in 1M deaths.

Scenario 2) Social engineering has never failed in the past, so we'll give it a try. Result $10B in hole results in 10M deaths.

I mean, come on. People are asking the .gov to accomplish something. This is the .gov people, not GOOG. All they're going to do is accept money from donors, send contract money to donors, repeat, plus or minus some feel good legislation.

This is only going to be fixed by individual social pressure working on individuals. Not federal social engineering. Not solving social problems using tech.