“Hawaii Government Settles Lawsuit with Youth Activists Over Fossil Fuel Use: A Win for Climate Justice”
The government of Hawaii has reached a settlement in a lawsuit with a group of young people who sued the state’s Department of Transportation over its use of fossil fuels. The case, brought in 2022 and organized by Our Children’s Trust and Earthjustice, alleged that the state was violating Hawaii’s Constitution by relying on polluting fuels such as gasoline, which was deemed to be detrimental to the right to a clean and healthful environment.
The settlement, announced just before the case was set to go to trial, requires the state to implement changes aimed at reducing planet-warming emissions. It also acknowledges the constitutional rights of young people in Hawaii to a clean and healthy environment. Governor Josh Green of Hawaii praised the young plaintiffs for their advocacy and stated that the settlement would guide the state towards achieving sustainable goals.
As part of the settlement, the state has committed to fully decarbonizing its transportation system within 20 years. Plans include expanding bicycle lanes and investing at least $40 million by 2030 in installing electric vehicle chargers. However, decarbonizing other parts of the transportation sector, such as airports and harbors, presents a greater challenge as there are currently no viable alternatives to fossil fuels for powering passenger jets and maritime vessels.
While Hawaii was the defendant in this case, the city of Honolulu is a plaintiff in a separate climate lawsuit against big oil companies, including Sunoco. The city accuses these companies of misleading the public about the risks of climate change. This lawsuit, along with others filed by cities and states against the fossil fuel industry, has the potential to reach the Supreme Court.
Sunoco has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. The settlement in Hawaii marks another victory for young plaintiffs advocating for environmental justice and underscores the growing momentum of legal actions aimed at holding polluters accountable for their contributions to climate change.