UPDATE – October 30th at 11:44 AM ET: Please note that the first line of the press release mentions the ruling was issued by the federal Court of Appeal, but it should read “Today, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the seven Ontario youth allowing their appeal.”
TORONTO – Today, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the seven Ontario youth allowing their appeal. The judge will have to re-consider whether Ontario failed to produce a climate plan and a target that complies with the Charter rights. In reaction to the ruling, Priyanka Vittal, Legal Counsel at Greenpeace Canada declared:
“Today is a huge win for every Canadian. We all deserve a healthy future and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that. While it is frustrating that the Court did not rule on the merits, which delays action, this is a step in the right direction toward enshrining climate rights as Charter rights. Governments are finally addressing climate change and Canadian courts are starting to catch up in upholding this responsibility. We expect the Ford government, who has all but entirely eroded environmental and climate laws in the province, to appeal this decision. We need climate action from the government today and not to spend taxpayer dollars fighting it. We stand alongside the courageous youth who are fighting for us all.”
Greenpeace Canada intervened in the case alongside the Climate Litigation Network making submissions regarding the Court’s ability to determine a government’s fair share in emissions reductions.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
Greenpeace Canada submission to the Court of Appeal is available here.
Ecojustice reaction to the ruling is available here. Ecojustice lawyers — representing the seven young people — argued that the Ford government’s weakened climate target violated the constitutional right to life, liberty, and security of every person in Ontario.
For more information, please contact:
Laura Bergamo, Communications Campaigner, Greenpeace Canada
[email protected] ; +1 438 928-5237
