Teen loses court bid to force action on climate change

A Raleigh eighth-grader who took her fight to clean up the environment to court has lost that legal battle.

Posted 2:21 p.m. Nov 26, 2015 — Updated 2:21 p.m. Nov 26, 2015

RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh eighth-grader who took her fight to clean up the environment to court has lost that legal battle.

Hallie Turner, 13, petitioned the state Environmental Management Commission for rules that would require North Carolina to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 4 percent each year. The panel rejected that petition, so Hallie took her case to court.

Hallie's attorney, Gayle Goldsmith Tuch, said Thursday that the judge had ruled in favor of the state.

The girl released this statement in response:

"While I am disappointed in the ruling, I know that I am right to demand immediate action on this issue. This ruling will not deter me from continuing my work. Climate change is too urgent for any of us to sit quietly while the State fails to take significant action. I will continue to speak out until the State does what is needed to protect our future."

Hallie is part of a nationwide youth movement taking on climate change. The Oregon-based nonprofit Our Children's Trust has been leading efforts to file lawsuits or administrative petitions in every state and against the federal government.

"This is an issue, it's not only affecting me, it's affecting future generations," she said. "I feel like my voice needs to be heard."

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