Canada government sued by young citizens over alleged climate inaction

Three young Canadians, supported by environmental organizations, have filed a lawsuit accusing the federal government of failing to uphold its legal obligation to establish a climate action plan for 2030. The legal challenge comes amid a shift in Prime Minister Mark Carney's administration, which has been scaling back key environmental policies while advancing major energy and infrastructure projects.

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Over the last year, we have watched the Carney government weaken, delay and repeal Canada’s key climate policies.

Environmental advocates argue that the Carney government has weakened, delayed, and repealed significant climate policies over the past year. The lawsuit seeks to compel the Canadian government to "chart a credible, up to date course of action" and "to protect Canadians from the worsening impacts of climate change." This action is being brought forth by Equal Justice and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), alongside the three individual plaintiffs.

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to chart a credible, up to date course of action

Since taking office in March 2025, Carney's center-left government has reversed several environmental measures, including a carbon tax for individuals and an emissions cap for the oil and gas sector. Carney has justified these moves by emphasizing the need to strengthen Canada's economic resilience amid trade tensions with the United States, advocating for accelerated energy and infrastructure projects deemed to be in the national interest.

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to protect Canadians from the worsening impacts of climate change

Notably, Carney himself acknowledged in December that Canada is unlikely to meet its 2030 climate targets, which are central to the current lawsuit. Court documents highlight that Canada is warming at approximately twice the global rate, with its northern regions experiencing warming nearly three times faster. The government is also facing a separate trial in October concerning allegations that the previous Justin Trudeau administration's climate response violated the rights of young Canadians. This case is part of a broader trend of climate litigation globally, aiming to hold governments accountable for their climate policies.

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Carney has argued that Canada must strengthen its economic resilience in response to trade tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump, including by accelerating major energy and infrastructure projects that his government says are in the national interest.