press release

Virginia Court Dismissed Youth Plaintiffs’ Climate Case on Sovereign Immunity Grounds

Lawsuit alleging that the permitting of fossil fuel infrastructure by Virginia and Virginia agencies and officials violated youth plaintiffs' rights under the Virginia Constitution.

Layla H. v. Commonwealth of Virginia

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Litigation

Sabin

Sabin Litigation

complaint

Youth Plaintiffs Filed Case Alleging Virginia’s Fossil Fuel Permitting Violated Public Trust and Substantive Due Process Rights

Filing Year For Action

Layla H. v. Commonwealth

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

Air pollution involves harmful contaminants in the air, affecting both indoor and outdoor environments. It can lead to health issues like respiratory diseases and heart problems, and climate impacts such as global warming. Pollutants can damage plants, trees, habitats, and water bodies like rivers and lakes.

People with different national or cultural traditions from the dominant population

The release of heat-trapping gases, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and industry.

This sector includes firms and individuals offering specialised expertise in fields such as law, accounting, consulting, science and engineering.

This sector involves activities to move goods and people, alongside the storage of products.

Virginia Court Dismissed Youth Plaintiffs’ Climate Case on Sovereign Immunity Grounds

Risk

Impacted group

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector