*Sr Brigid Arthur CSB, pictured at a refugee rally in Melbourne in March. PHOTO: Melbourne Catholic/Fiona Basile.*

The Federal Court has found Environment Minister Sussan Ley has a duty of care to protect young people from the climate crisis, in a world-first case brought by teenagers and a Catholic religious sister, The Guardian reports.

Eight teenagers and Sr Brigid Arthur CSB, acting as the teens' litigation guardian, had sought an injunction to prevent Ms Ley approving a proposal by Whitehaven Coal to expand the Vickery coalmine in northern New South Wales. They argued Ms Ley had a common law duty of care to protect younger people against future harm from climate change.

Justice Mordecai Bromberg agreed, finding Ms Ley had a duty of care to not act in a way that would cause future harm to younger people. But he did not grant the injunction as he was not satisfied the Minister would breach her duty of care.

David Barnden, a lawyer representing the children, said it was a historic and “amazing decision” with potentially significant consequences.

Whitehaven Coal had a different interpretation of the judgment. In a statement to the stock exchange, it did not mention the duty of care finding, and said it welcomed the court dismissing the teenagers’ attempt to block Ms Ley from approving the mine extension.

This article summary, published by CathNews is drawn from a report in The Guardian. Read the full story here.