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MONTREAL — Lawyers representing young Quebecers tried to convince a judge Thursday to authorize a class action lawsuit against the federal government for what they argue is a failure to combat climate change.

The class action brought by ENvironnement JEUnesse would be on behalf of Quebecers aged 35 and under, whom lawyers argue are being deprived of a right to a healthy environment and will suffer the effects of global warming more than older generations.

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Going to court is the group’s way of forcing Ottawa’s hand to do more to knock itself from the top of the list of countries that emit the most greenhouse gases per capita.

Quebec Superior Court Justice Gary Morrison heard arguments Thursday from lawyers for the group as well as the federal government, which argued the courts were not the proper place for the protest.

For federal lawyers, allowing such an action to proceed would be an unjustified interference of the courts in the political sphere.