Colorado Teenagers Bring Law on Their Side against Oil Industry

A Colorado Court of Appeals has just endorsed a youth mobilization against the giant oil industry. There were six underage plaintiffs against a powerful market. The Colorado teenagers resorted to law to address the lack of consideration on behalf of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regarding the future of citizens. They wanted the agency to take a stand against the environmental dangers of fossil fuel drilling and the health and climate change repercussions of this procedure.

The Six Colorado Teenagers Are Part of an Activist Group

On Thursday, a Colorado Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a group of six teenagers. The ruling found the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission responsible for a weak protection of the environment and public health. The lawsuit was opened when COGCC refused to put a 2014 rule in practice. The decision stipulated the cessation of offering permits to oil and gas drilling. This can change if officials attest the safety of their plans through a third party organization and through scientific research. They must prove that the new operations bring no impairments to the wildlife, air, water, and land of Colorado. Moreover, they will have to prove that the public health and climate change receive no further impact from the new excavation plans.

All six Colorado teenagers are members of an activist group. This is the first time in history when the court stipulated that the Colorado Commission has any authority to proactively protect public health and the environment against fossil fuel drilling. The ruling encourages the agency to think of welfare ahead of oil and gas.

The New Ruling Opens New Possibilites for Environmental Advocacy Groups

On the other hand, the new ruling does not force the 2014 court decision to be implemented. It merely highlights that COGCC did not endorse the proposal, even if this was the just thing to do. Nonetheless, this is a historical gain for all groups of activists. This new ruling can back up other environmentalist plans such as banning fossil fuel drilling in cities. This initiative is in accord with the court decision, considering the fact that this will discard an urban agent that impairs public health.

On the other hand, COGCC confessed its dissatisfaction with the Thursday’s ruling. The industry regulator is currently considering whether to appeal the decision or not. Their argument lies in the Gas Conservation Act. This law requires a cohabitation between the industry of oil and gas and the protection of the welfare, safety, and public health.

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