Children win landmark Hawaii climate case
A group of young activists and children has won a constitutional case that will force a government department to curb transportation emissions in Hawaii.
In a historic settlement of a lawsuit brought by 13 children and activists in 2022, the Hawaiian Department of Transportation on Thursday agreed to decarbonise its transport sector to reach zero emissions by 2045.
The lawsuit, Navahine v Hawaii Department of Transportation, was filed in Hawaii’s First Circuit Court. The plaintiffs alleged that Hawaii had violated their constitutional right to a healthful and clean environment by implementing transportation infrastructure and policies reliant on fossil fuels, causing polluting emissions.
