Youth, advocacy groups sue Carney government over climate rollbacks

18-Jun-2026

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Young people and environmental groups are suing the Carney government — alleging it's undoing Canada's climate plan and breaking federal law in the process.

Three young people and two environmental groups are asking the Federal Court to order Ottawa to develop a climate plan that achieves Canada's legally binding 2030 climate targets. 

"When political leaders say they are committed to climate action while dismantling the very policies needed to achieve it, young people notice," said Sophia Mathur, one of the youth listed in the application for the judicial review. 

"We are the ones who will be facing and living with the consequences."

The case alleges the federal government, through recent climate policy changes, is violating Canada's climate accountability act — formally known as the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. 

Since the 2030 climate plan, also known as the emissions-reduction plan (ERP), "was established, the government of Canada has eliminated, weakened and/or significantly altered [its] key measures," according to the notice of application filed Monday in Federal Court.