Young activists are initiating a legal challenge against Ontario’s climate plan, aiming to revive their case at the province’s highest court. Premier Doug Ford’s government disrupted the case last year by dismantling its own climate legislation shortly before facing scrutiny for its weakened 2018 emissions target in court. Previous court rulings highlighted a significant gap between the emissions target and the necessary level to mitigate severe climate consequences, lacking a solid scientific foundation.
In November, the premier’s office justified the repeal of the legal requirement to establish an emissions-reduction target and regularly update the climate plan by citing U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainties. This legislative change, which was the foundation of the youth-led challenge, raised concerns among legal experts who viewed it as an attempt by Ontario to evade accountability.
Now, a lawyer representing the climate activists is advocating for the Appeal Court to reexamine the case and ensure a definitive ruling on whether Ontario’s climate plan breaches the Charter. Fraser Thomson, the lawyer from the environmental law charity Ecojustice, emphasized the urgency of addressing government actions that seek to sidestep accountability during a climate emergency.
The Canadian Press has reached out to the province for comment. Ontario’s highest court will determine the potential reopening of the case after receiving written arguments from both parties by April.