On Friday June 29, New Mexico youth and
WildEarth Guardians will return to court for the second time to defend our
right to a healthy earth by mandating lower greenhouse gas emissions in the
State. We hope to convince Judge Sarah Singleton to allow the case to move
forward in the courts in what experts have called one of the most remarkable
legal actions that has the potential to halt human-induced climate change.
You are invited to attend this important legal
hearing:
Where: New Mexico First Judicial District Court
100 Catron Street, Room 250
Santa Fe, NM 87501
There is scientific evidence that New Mexico is
particularly vulnerable to climate change. Therefore, New Mexico must develop
and implement an informed plan to protect the State’s natural resources as part
of the Public Trust Doctrine.
The Public Trust Doctrine imposes on New Mexico an
obligation to all of its citizens, and our youth in particular, to ensure the
protection of natural resources that the State holds in trust for the security
and livelihood of those citizens. Yet the State continues to brazenly ignore
this obligation in favor of commercial exploitation of our natural resources,
particularly when it comes to the atmosphere.
On May 4, 2011, 16-year-old Akilah Sanders-Reed
and WildEarth Guardians filed a lawsuit against Governor Martinez and the State
of New Mexico to compel the State to comply with its Public Trust obligation to
prevent further increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and to reduce
CO2 emissions. According to leading climate scientist Dr. James
Hansen, “we must
rapidly reduce fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions if we are to have a chance
of protecting Earth’s natural systems for these young people.”
Plaintiff Akilah Sanders-Reed says, "I'm not
18 so I can’t vote. I can experience how inherently beautiful our world is, but
I am politically powerless to save it. In order for my generation to have a
future, we have to trust our government officials to protect that future.”
Come and show your support for the climate, New
Mexico’s youth, and WildEarth Guardians by supporting us in court next Friday
for this significant hearing.
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