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EUGENE Judge hears historic climate case brought by Eugene teens Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 8, 2015 at 6:40 PM By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 8, 2015 at 6:40 PM » Social News A Lane County judge on Tuesday heard arguments in a potentially precedent-setting case brought by two Eugene teenagers seeking a court ruling that would force state lawmakers to work harder on a plan to reduce carbon emissions and help stave off climate change. One of the two plaintiffs, 19-year-old Kelsey Juliana, sat between her two attorneys during a two-hour hearing before Lane County Circuit Judge Karsten Rasmussen, who will issue a written ruling in the coming weeks. The teens’ lawyers want Rasmussen to rule that the atmosphere is a resource that state officials have a duty to protect on behalf of the public. Juliana and her co-plaintiff, 14-year-old Olivia Chernaik, filed suit in 2011, when they were 15 and 11 years old, respectively. Rasmussen dismissed the case in 2012 — ­saying at the time that he was being asked to do a job that should fall to the Legislature and the governor. But the matter bounced back to Rasmussen after the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled last year that he does have jurisdiction to consider the lawsuit’s merits. Asked Tuesday how it felt to see the case reach this point in the legal process, Juliana said, “I’m very proud and grateful to have my day in court, and I’m very optimistic.” While Rasmussen listened to arguments in court before a courtroom packed with backers of the teenagers’ case, dozens of other youngsters and adults showed their support for the cause by staging a rally outside the Lane County Courthouse. Participants waved a number of signs, including ones that read: “We Listen: Our Children Speak” and “Kids’ Future On Trial.” Attorneys representing state government assert that Oregon already has passed a number of regulations to protect the environment. But lawyers for Juliana and Cherniak contend that the state’s carbon emission reduction plan is too weak and includes nonbinding goals that aren’t being met, rather than concrete requirements to reduce pollution. Portland attorney Chris Winter, who represents the teens, told Rasmussen that the “gravity of the situation we’re facing has only become more clear” since the case began. The youths’ lawsuit was filed with support from Our Children’s Trust in Eugene. Similar lawsuits naming children as plaintiffs have been filed in all 50 states in a coordinated effort to pressure governments to speed up efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Last September, the Alaska Supreme Court dismissed one of the suits, which had been brought by six youngsters demanding state action on climate change. The court ruled in that case that climate policy must be decided through the political process, not in a courtroom. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 8, 2015 at 6:40 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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