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Fighting for Their Future

Should our government be doing more to protect us from the effects of climate change? A group of young people in Montana think so. Here’s how they took their state to court over that question—and won.

February 2024

by Brooke Ross

William Campbell/Getty Images

Rikki Held

Rikki Held grew up on a cattle ranch in Broadus, Montana. In 2007, the river that runs through the ranch dried up. Suddenly, the ranch’s water source was gone. The Held family lost both cattle and crops as a result.

The river did start flowing again. But Held’s family has been through droughts, floods, and heat waves since. Each crisis makes it harder for them to keep the ranch open.

“It’s stressful,” Held, now 22, said. “That’s my life and my home.”

Broadus isn’t the only part of Montana facing such disasters. In recent years, areas throughout the state have had more floods and wildfires. Temperatures have been rising. Scientists say this is all due to climate change (long-term changes in Earth’s weather).

Held and others argue that officials in Montana have made the situation worse. That’s why she and 15 other young people filed a lawsuit against the state. They sued to protect their right to a healthy environment—and won.

Rikki Held grew up in Broadus, Montana. She grew up on a cattle ranch. A river runs through the ranch. In 2007, the river dried up. The ranch’s water source was gone. The Helds’ crops died. Their cows died.

Later, the river flowed again. But there have been droughts, floods, and heat waves ever since. Each crisis makes things harder for the Helds.

“It’s stressful,” Held said. She’s 22 now. “That’s my life and my home.”

Other parts of Montana are facing similar problems. In recent years, there have been more floods and wildfires in Montana. Temperatures have been rising. Scientists say this is due to climate change. That’s long-term changes in Earth’s weather.

Held and others say that officials in Montana made the situation worse. Held and 15 other young people filed a lawsuit against the state. They sued to protect their right to a healthy environment. And they won.

Rikki Held grew up on a cattle ranch in Broadus, Montana. In 2007, the river that runs through the ranch dried up. Suddenly, the ranch’s water source was gone—and the Held family lost both cattle and crops as a result.

The river eventually started flowing again, but Held’s family has been through droughts, floods, and heat waves ever since. Each crisis makes it more difficult for them to keep their ranch open.

“It’s stressful,” Held, now 22, explained. “That’s my life and my home.”

Broadus isn’t the only part of Montana facing such disasters. In recent years, areas throughout the state have had more floods and wildfires, and temperatures have been rising. Scientists say this is all due to climate change (long-term changes in Earth’s weather).

PAUSE AND THINK: Why did Rikki Held file a lawsuit against her state?

A Warming Planet

Earth’s climate is always changing. But right now, most experts agree that humans are making the planet warm up faster than ever before. This past summer was hotter than usual for 98 percent of the world’s population.

Why is Earth’s temperature rising so fast? Every day, people burn fossil fuels. Gas powers our cars. Oil helps heat our homes. Coal fuels power plants that make electricity.

Burning fuel sends harmful gases into the air. These gases build up in our atmosphere. They trap heat from the sun close to Earth.

Scientists call this the “greenhouse effect.”

Montana burns a lot of fossil fuels. For years, it built energy projects like coal mines and power plants without carefully thinking about how they might harm the climate.

This angered Held. She felt like Montana needed to be doing more to protect the environment—and her future.

Earth’s climate is always changing. But the planet is warming up faster than ever before. This past summer was hotter than usual for much of the world. Most experts agree that humans are causing this warming.

Why is Earth’s temperature rising so fast? Every day, people burn fossil fuels. Gas powers our cars. Oil helps heat our homes. Coal fuels power plants that make electricity.

Burning fuel sends harmful gases into the air. These gases build up in our atmosphere. They trap heat from the sun close to Earth. Scientists call this the “greenhouse effect.”

Montana burns a lot of fossil fuels. For years, it built coal mines and power plants. State leaders didn’t think carefully about the harm this might do.

This angered Held. She thought Montana needed to do more to protect the environment—and her future.

Why is Earth’s temperature rising so fast? Every day, people burn fossil fuels. Gas powers our cars, oil helps heat our homes, and coal fuels power plants that make electricity.

Burning fuel sends harmful gases into the air. They build up in our atmosphere, and they trap heat from the sun close to Earth. Scientists call this the “greenhouse effect.”

Montana burns a lot of fossil fuels. For years, it built energy projects like coal mines and power plants without carefully considering how they might harm the climate.

This angered Held. She felt like Montana needed to be doing more to protect the environment—and her future.

PAUSE AND THINK: What is the greenhouse effect?

Going to Court

A group called Our Children’s Trust gave Held a way to take on this issue. The group was building a case against Montana. It wanted young people to be involved. Held joined the case as a plaintiff. Fifteen other kids and teens from across the state also joined in.

In 2020, the group filed their lawsuit. It was filed in Held’s name because she is the oldest.

Held v. State of Montana focused on language in Montana’s constitution. It says that people who live in Montana have “the right to a clean and healthful environment.”

The trial began on June 12, 2023. Several plaintiffs gave testimony. They talked about how climate change is affecting them. Badge Busse, 15, spoke about the effect of wildfires. He often has to stay indoors to avoid damage to his lungs from the smoky air.

Doctors and scientists also gave testimony. Doctors said the effects of climate change are extra harmful to young people. Scientists talked about the effects of climate change on Montana—now and in the future.

But the state argued that it can’t be blamed for a warming planet. It’s “a global issue,” a lawyer for Montana said.

A group called Our Children’s Trust agreed with Held. It was building a case against Montana. It wanted young people to be involved. Held joined the case as a plaintiff. Fifteen other young people from Montana also joined in.

In 2020, the group filed their lawsuit. Held is the oldest. So it was filed in her name.

Held v. State of Montana focused on Montana’s constitution. It says that people in Montana have “the right to a clean and healthful environment.”

The trial began on June 12, 2023. Several plaintiffs gave testimony. They talked about how climate change affects them. Badge Busse, 15, spoke about wildfires. The smoky air can damage his lungs. So he often stays indoors.

Doctors and scientists gave testimony too. Doctors said the effects of climate change are extra harmful to young people. Scientists talked about the effects of climate change on Montana—now and in the future.

But the state argued that it can’t be blamed for a warming planet. It’s “a global issue,” a lawyer for Montana said.

A group called Our Children’s Trust offered Held a way to take on this issue. The group was building a case against Montana, and it wanted young people to be involved. Held joined the case as a plaintiff. Fifteen other kids and teens from across the state also joined in.

In 2020, the group filed their lawsuit. Because Held is the oldest, it was filed in her name.

Held v. State of Montana focused on language in Montana’s constitution. It says that people who live in Montana have “the right to a clean and healthful environment.”

The trial began on June 12, 2023. Several plaintiffs gave testimony in which they talked about how climate change is affecting them. Badge Busse, 15, spoke about the effect of wildfires, explaining that he often has to stay indoors to avoid damage to his lungs from the smoky air.

But the state argued that it can’t be blamed for a warming planet. It’s “a global issue,” a lawyer for Montana said.

PAUSE AND THINK: Who did doctors say is harmed by climate change?

“We Are Heard!”

In August, the judge made her decision. She ruled that the Montana state government has a duty to protect its citizens from climate change. (When this issue went to press in October, the state of Montana had already filed an appeal. That means the case will be heard again by a higher court.)

Still, the Held v. Montana win is giving young people in Montana hope. Kian Tanner was a plaintiff from the city of Bigfork. When the judge read her ruling, he cheered.

“This ruling, this case—it is truly historic,” he said. “We are heard!”

In August, the judge made her decision. She ruled that Montana’s state government has a duty to protect its citizens from climate change. The state of Montana filed an appeal. That means the case will be heard again by a higher court.

But the first win gave the plaintiffs hope. Kian Tanner was a plaintiff. When the judge read the ruling, Tanner cheered.

“It is truly historic,” he said. “We are heard!”

In August, the judge made her decision, ruling that the Montana state government has a duty to protect its citizens from climate change. (When this issue went to press in October, the state of Montana had already filed an appeal, which means the case will be heard again by a higher court.)

Still, the Held v. Montana win is giving young people in Montana hope. Kian Tanner was a plaintiff from the city of Bigfork. When the judge read her ruling, he cheered.

“This ruling, this case—it is truly historic,” he said. “We are heard!”