Climate Change Charter Rights?

We discuss a recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision, Mathur v. Ontario, which was the subject of a recent National Post column by Jamie Sarkonak. In this case, a group of teenagers had gone after the Ford government when it lowered the CO2 targets created by the previous government. The kids claimed the change in government policy violated their Charter rights by endangering the future. The teenagers lost the first round, but now the Appeal Court has ordered a new trial, indirectly suggesting they might have a right to a stable climate.

Court of Appeal for Ontario, Oct 17, 2024: Mather v. Ontario

Jamie Sarkonak in the National Post, Oct 22, 2024: Court says lack of economy-killing climate targets may violate the Charter

Supreme Court of Canada, Apr 2, 2024: Vriend v. Alberta

Friends of Science, Aug 6, 2019: Alligators in Alaska

Ken Gregory in Friends of Science, Jun 14, 2024: Climate Sensitivity by Energy Balance with Urban and Natural Warming (PDF)

CanLII, Jun 20, 2024: Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, SC 2018, c 12, s 186

Supreme Court of Canada, May 25, 2021: References re Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act

Financial Times, Feb 21, 2015: Chairman of climate change panel accused of sexual harassment

Wikipedia: Rajendra K. Pachauri

BBC, Feb 24, 2015: Profile: Climate chief Rajendra Pachauri

Carbon Brief, Jan 12, 2023: Tonga volcano eruption raises ‘imminent’ risk of temporary 1.5C breach

Watts Up With That?, Aug 24, 2024: Climate Change Weekly #516: Hunga Tonga Eruption Behind “Record” Warming

Kenneth P. Green, Fraser Institute Bulletin, Apr 2024: Extreme Weather and Climate Change (PDF)

CanLII, Sep 9, 2021: O.M.S. v E.J.S., 2021 SKQB 243 (Ruling by M.T. Megaw)

Justice Centre Concluded Case, May 11, 2023: Trinity Bible Chapel, et al. v. Ontario

Theme Music "Carpay Diem" by Dave Stevens