New Ore. climate change suit filed as youth suit stalled

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Animal Legal Defense Fund has filed a lawsuit to compel the federal government to act on climate change as a similar lawsuit filed by young activists was placed on hold.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the plaintiffs in the suit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Oregon include scientists, nature enthusiasts and wildlife advocates who say they fear for their safety because of increased severity of wildfires, mudslides and other threats.

They contend they have a fundamental right to be left alone “free from human interference” in the wilderness.

They’re asking a federal judge to declare that the U.S. government is violating that right by contributing to a dangerous concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The new suit comes days after the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked a high-profile climate change lawsuit that young activists brought against the federal government in Eugene.

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com