Climate change lawsuit by 21 youths takes big step forward

(AP) — The federal government and big energy companies lost an important round Friday in their effort to block a climate change lawsuit by young plaintiffs who contend the U.S. is failing to protect them from the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions.

Oral arguments before Coffin last month drew hundreds of people who came to show their support for the youths, who contend the release of dangerous carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere is a violation of their constitutional rights.

Lawyers for energy companies argued that ruling in the plaintiffs' favor would cause them considerable harm, and that they are already subject to many environmental regulations under laws like the federal Clean Air Act.