Dear Editor:
Nov. 10, 2016, Judge Ann Aiken ruled that 21 young Americans can proceed to trial in their suit against the Obama administration. The suit claims the government has known about climate change for years but has not acted on it, denying young persons of their right to a safe future. See Kelsey Cascadia Rose Juliana et al., Plaintiffs, v. United states of America, et al., Defendants.
Judge Aiken stated, "the right to a climate system capable of sustaining human life is fundamental to a free and ordered society." She further stated, "Just as marriage is the 'foundation of the family,' a stable climate system is quite literally the foundation of society, without which there would be neither civilization nor progress." These declarations are founded in constitution and public trust law.
With concern for President-Elect Trump's disregard for climate change, President Obama is being urged to stop fighting the lawsuit and offer a settlement. If the young plaintiffs accept the settlement, the judicial system would then be responsible for ensuring that the Trump administration put the terms of that settlement into effect.
Please contact President Obama asking him to settle the Oregon climate kids law suit before he leaves office Jan. 20, 2017.
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