Sharma and others v Minister for the Environment

Summary:

On September 8, 2020, eight young people filed a putative class action in Australia's Federal Court to block a coal project. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the Australian Government from approving an extension of the Whitehaven Vickery coal mine. The plaintiffs claim to represent all people under 18, and argue that Federal Minister Sussan Ley has a common law duty of care for young people. They further assert that digging up and burning coal will exacerbate climate change and harm young people in the future.

At Issue: Youth sought injunction to block coal project.