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• A group of young climate activists is suing Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission, arguing that state laws hinder renewable energy and promote fossil fuels, which they say violates their constitutional rights.
• The lawsuit comes after severe flooding in the state, which the activists’ lawyers say is a direct result of climate change.
• The plaintiffs are challenging specific state laws that prevent the commission from considering air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions when approving new power plants.
• The lawsuit also targets a law that effectively caps the state’s renewable energy requirement for utilities at 10%, prohibiting the commission from mandating a higher percentage.
• The plaintiffs, who are between 8 and 17 years old, claim they have personally experienced climate-related harms, including health issues like asthma and mental trauma, as well as property damage from flooding and droughts.
• The case is the latest in a series of youth-led climate lawsuits filed by the nonprofit law firm Our Children’s Trust.
• The lawsuit argues that even though Wisconsin’s constitution doesn’t have an explicit environmental rights provision, the right to a stable climate is foundational to the state’s protected rights to life, liberty, and public trust in its waterways.