Seven young people, including one Sudbury actvist, are suing the Government of Ontario for weakening its climate targets.
The group includes 12-year-old Sudburian Sophia Mathur. The group of young activists are claiming the Ford government's weakening of its climate targets will lead to widespread illness and death, violating Ontarians’ Charter-protected rights to life, liberty, and security of the person.
Their case argues that Ontario’s 2030 target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels is inadequate, unconstitutional, and must be struck down.
Under Ontario’s 2030 target — made weaker by the 2018 Cap and Trade Cancellation Act — the Government of Ontario will allow significantly more greenhouse gas emissions to be emitted.
"This will worsen the climate emergency and contribute to dangerous climate change-related impacts such as heatwaves, floods, fires, and poor air quality that will harm the health of people throughout Ontario," said a news release from Ecojustice, an organization that says it uses the courts to defend nature, combat climate change, and fight for the environment.
"Ontario’s backsliding comes at a time when there is a clear scientific consensus and moral imperative for governments to limit warming to 1.5 degrees C. Meeting this temperature goal, set out in the Paris Agreement, will require global greenhouse gas emissions to halve by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050."
The applicants, who range in age from 12 to 24 and hail from communities across Ontario, are represented by lawyers from Ecojustice and Stockwoods LLP in this public interest litigation.
“My generation deserves a future. When I grow up, I want to be a lawyer. I also have lots of other hopes and dreams and I want the chance to make them come true," said Mathur.
"That’s why it was important for me to start striking for the climate in November 2018, and why I’m working with other young people to take the government to court today.”
Nader Hasan, a partner with Stockwoods LLP says Ontario's climate rollbacks pose "an unacceptable risk to the life, liberty and security of all Ontarians".
"These rollbacks are unconstitutional and will condemn entire generations to shouldering the frightening health impacts the climate crisis," said Hasan.
"Because government won’t act on its own, we’re asking the courts to order this government to wake up and take action.”
