EUGENE, Ore. — A Lane County Circuit Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by two Eugene girls and their mothers that accused Gov. John Kitzhaber of failing to protect the state’s resources against climate change.
Judge Karsten Rasmussen ruled Thursday that the court lacks authority to order the actions sought in the lawsuit filed last May by 11-year-old Olivia Chernaik and 15-year-old Kelsey Juliana.
The Register-Guard reports the suit was filed with the help of their mothers and funding from the environmental group called iMatter, as part of a national campaign.
The girls wanted the court to order the governor to collect more information on greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce the impact of climate change. The judge says it’s a political issue up to the Legislature.
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