CPM represents youth plaintiffs from across the nation, as well as Kids vs. Global Warming, a non-profit organization committed to educating youth about climate change, and WildEarth Guardians, an organization dedicated to protecting and restoring wildlife. The plaintiffs are suing six federal agencies, seeking a declaration that: the atmosphere is a Public Trust resource; the United States government has an obligation to preserve and protect the atmosphere; and the United States government has violated fiduciary duties as a trustee of the atmosphere by contributing to and allowing unsafe amounts of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The plaintiffs also seek an injunction requiring the defendants to take immediate action to cause U.S. carbon dioxide emissions to decline by at least 6% a year beginning in 2013, prepare an annual greenhouse gas accounting or inventory of all GHG emissions originated by the United States, prepare an annual carbon budget, and prepare a climate recovery plan. The action is venued in the United States District Court District of Colombia, before the Honorable Robert L. Wilkins. The action was filed in May, 2011 and has since attracted the attention of various industry intervenors, including the National Association of Manufacturers and the fossil fuel industry.
