The year on the water, wildlife, energy, climate and public lands beat – Montana Free Press

Montana Free Press 2025 Year-End Report: Emphasizing Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

As 2025 concludes, Montana Free Press (MTFP) reflects on a year marked by extensive reporting on critical environmental and public policy issues. The focus areas include water, wildlife, energy, climate, land use, and public land management. These topics align closely with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

Key Environmental and Legislative Developments in 2025

1. Water Resource Management and Legal Challenges

   • Persistent drought led to complete drying of stretches of the Upper Blackfoot River, highlighting challenges to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
   • The Montana Legislature addressed issues such as exempt wells and water policy, with lawsuits filed over inadequate protections for senior water rights and aquatic ecosystems.
   • A coalition sued the state for failing to regulate groundwater appropriation loopholes used for rural residential developments, impacting sustainable water use.
   • Lawsuits aimed at protecting instream flows on blue-ribbon fisheries were initiated amid record-low streamflows, emphasizing ecosystem conservation under SDG 15 (Life on Land).

2. Climate and Environmental Policy

   • The Montana Supreme Court upheld the Held v. Montana ruling, affirming the constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment, including a stable climate system, directly supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action).
   • Several plaintiffs challenged legislative changes perceived as insufficient to safeguard environmental and climate rights.
   • Federal policy shifts under the Trump administration reversed prior energy and water quality regulations, affecting coal mining, power plant emissions, water standards, and open-space initiatives.

3. Wildlife and Land Management

   • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to propose removing federal protections for grizzly bears, a significant issue for biodiversity conservation (SDG 15).
   • The Custer Gallatin National Forest authorized a controversial land swap in the Crazy Mountains and experienced mass layoffs, impacting forest management and conservation efforts.
   • Rollbacks of the ‘roadless rule’ aimed at protecting intact wildlife habitats were reported, raising concerns about habitat preservation.

4. Energy and Utility Regulation

   • The Montana Public Service Commission made critical decisions affecting NorthWestern Energy customers, influencing SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
   • Data centers are anticipated to become central to energy and water resource discussions in 2026, reflecting the intersection of technology and sustainable resource management.

Challenges and Impacts

• Extreme weather events, including historic flooding in Lincoln County causing tens of millions in damages, underscore the urgency of climate adaptation strategies (SDG 13).
• Legal and regulatory battles over water rights and environmental protections illustrate ongoing tensions between development and sustainability goals.
• Public engagement and independent reporting by MTFP continue to play a vital role in holding power accountable and informing policy debates.

Looking Ahead: Priorities for 2026

1. Energy and Water Resource Management: Monitoring the role of data centers in energy consumption and water use, with implications for sustainable infrastructure development.
2. Wildlife Protection: Anticipating federal actions regarding grizzly bear protections, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem health.
3. Climate Resilience: Preparing for increased climate variability and extreme weather events, emphasizing the need for robust climate action policies.

Conclusion

Montana Free Press’s 2025 reporting highlights critical intersections with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in environmental protection, climate action, and sustainable resource management. Continued independent journalism is essential to advancing these goals by informing the public and influencing policy.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Issues related to water rights, groundwater management, instream flows, and water quality standards are central to the article.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article discusses climate litigation, the right to a stable climate system, and impacts of climate change such as drought and flooding.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Concerns about wildlife protection, endangered species (e.g., grizzly bears), forest management, and land use are highlighted.
4. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Energy utility regulation, energy policy changes, and data centers’ role in energy and water discussions are mentioned.
5. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Lawsuits concerning environmental rights and legislative actions reflect governance and justice issues.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals to address water scarcity.
   • Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including rivers and wetlands.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: Ensure conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent action to reduce degradation of natural habitats and halt the loss of biodiversity.
4. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
5. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 6 Indicators
   • Indicator 6.4.1: Change in water-use efficiency over time (implied through discussions on water rights and groundwater use).
   • Indicator 6.6.1: Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time (implied by lawsuits to protect instream flows and aquatic ecosystems).
2. SDG 13 Indicators
   • Indicator 13.1.2: Number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies (implied by references to disaster declarations and climate litigation).
   • Indicator 13.3.1: Number of countries that have integrated climate change measures into policies and planning (implied by legislative and judicial actions on climate rights).
3. SDG 15 Indicators
   • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area (implied by forest service decisions and land swaps).
   • Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index (implied by discussions on endangered species protections, e.g., grizzly bears).
4. SDG 7 Indicators
   • Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption (implied by energy utility filings and policy changes).
   • Indicator 7.3.1: Energy intensity measured in terms of primary energy and GDP (implied by energy efficiency discussions).
5. SDG 16 Indicators
   • Indicator 16.3.2: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population (not directly mentioned but related to justice system functioning).
   • Indicator 16.6.2: Proportion of the population satisfied with their last experience of public services (implied by public service commission activities and governance issues).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: montanafreepress.org