Montana Supreme Court upholds landmark climate ruling that said emissions can’t be ignored

By AMY BETH HANSON
Associated Press

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana’s Supreme Court has rejected an attempt by the governor and several state agencies to block a landmark court ruling in a climate case. A state judge said in August a law forbidding state regulators from analyzing the effects of greenhouse gas emissions when issuing permits for fossil fuel development violated the state constitution. Gov. Greg Gianforte and the agencies wanted the Supreme Court to block the ruling pending the state’s appeal. Attorneys for the young plaintiffs who brought the case said the state must “immediately comply” with the state judge’s order. Montana Department of Environmental Quality Director Chris Dorrington said Wednesday he was disappointed in the court’s ruling. He declined to say how the state will respond.