for the case to be reheard. The press release notes that two of the judges who joined the majority opinion — Justices Joel Bolger and Craig Stowers — are retired and no longer on the bench.
The case was initially filed in 2017 and claims that Alaska’s policy when it comes to fossil fuel energy “causes and exacerbates” climate change in the state. “Our hope is that the justices will take another look at how urgent and important constitutional review of the statute challenged in this case is to the lives of these young people,” said Andrew Welle, lead counsel for the youth plaintiffs, in the press release. “Every day that the State’s statutory fossil fuel promotion policy remains on the books is another day that Alaska’s political branches continue to irreversibly harm these young Alaskans.
According to the release, the Alaska Supreme Court will now consider whether to hear the case again. If the petition is granted, the court will have to request a response from the state.