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January 21, 2020

Appeals Court Dismisses Landmark Youth Climate Lawsuit Against U.S. Government
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In environmental news, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a
landmark youth climate lawsuit against the U.S. government, arguing the
case does not belong in the courts. Juliana v. United States accuses the
U.S. government of perpetuating the climate crisis and endangering the
lives of citizens.
Judge Josephine Staton, the dissenting voice on the three-judge panel,
wrote, "the government accepts as fact that the United States has
reached a tipping point crying out for a concerted response - yet
presses ahead toward calamity. It is as if an asteroid were barreling
toward Earth and the government decided to shut down our only defenses."
A lawyer for the plaintiffs has vowed to appeal the ruling.
Click here to see Democracy Now's interview with the lead plaintiff in
the case, Kelsey Juliana.

In more environmental news, the U.N. has ruled that climate refugees
cannot be forced to return to their home countries. The landmark
decision could grant significant new legal power to millions of people
around the world. Experts say tens of millions of people are expected to
become climate refugees within the decade.


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