On July 7, 2026, Healthy Gulf and Indian Riverkeeper, represented by the Jacobs Public Interest Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment, filed an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief in a youth-led climate lawsuit before Florida’s First District Court of Appeal.
The youth plaintiffs argue that the Florida Public Service Commission’s continued approval of electric utilities’ Ten-Year Site Plans as “adequate,” despite their ongoing reliance on fossil fuels as a primary energy source, violates their constitutional right to life under Article I, Sections 2 and 9 of the Florida Constitution.
In their amicus brief, Healthy Gulf and Indian Riverkeeper argue that Florida courts have long applied well-established legal standards when evaluating claims involving fundamental constitutional rights. The brief contends that the Florida Declaration of Rights guarantees meaningful access to the courts for individuals seeking redress for constitutional injuries, including harms stemming from environmental degradation and climate change.