CASE #1: US Carbon Dioxide Emission Reduction Targets BETWEEN Forest Guardians and Government of United States. PLAINTIFF Forest Guardians is a non- profit group based in Portland, Oregon, which advocates for public policies on behalf of the world's forests. They allege that climate change is causing an increase in damage to forest worldwide due to greenhouse gas emissions causing increasing trends in droughts and wildfires. PLAINTIFF alleges that the United States, as one of the world's top emitters of greenhouse gases is making inadequate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is therefore causing harm to forests and the citizens who value and live near them. DEFENDANT United States argues that it is required to balance numerous competing interests for the benefit of its citizens and is taking reasonable measures to protect the climate.2 The DEFENDANT seeks an expert opinion on the following questions. 1. Is there evidence that forest fires occurred in the United States and elsewhere prior to industrialization? 2. How has forest fire activity in the United States changed since the early 20th century? 3. Has global wildfire activity risen or fallen since the 1990s? 4. What are some of the ways human activity affects the number of forest fires and the area burned each year? 5. Would it be a benefit either to forests or to society to eradicate all wildfires? 6. Would it potentially be costly to the plaintiff if the defendant adopted more stringent greenhouse gas emission reduction policies? 7. In your opinion, has the United States harmed the defendants by failing to do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?