Mālama ‘Āina. Kiaʻi ‘Āina. Aloha ‘Āina.
Care for the Land. Defend the Land. Love the Land.
Young people live and lead by these words. They are driving change. Demanding government action. Using their voices. Their activism rooted in their love of the land they call home, in family and tradition is supported by Our Children’s Trust and in our growing community of supporters. Celebrate with the 13 plaintiffs in Navahine v. Hawai’i Department of Transportation in a historic settlement to protect children’s constitutional rights and achieve zero carbon emissions for ground, sea and interisland air transportation. Support our 16 plaintiffs in Held v. State of Montana as they embark on their journey to the Montana Supreme Court to uphold Judge Seeley’s landmark ruling.
Learn MORE ABOUT OUR MILESTONE YEAR AND GROUNDBREAKING WORK.
Read the inspiring journeys of Claire, Isaac, and Kalālapa, youth plaintiffs in three of our constitutional climate lawsuits. And learn how our case history and trailblazing strategy powered us forward to climate victory in 2023.
WE BELIEVE
That young people deserve to be happy and safe today and in the future. We use our legal and scientific expertise so they can tell their stories in court, in the media, and on the world stage.
The climate crisis is the single biggest driver of
health for every child born today.
Lisa Patel, MD, MESc, Board Member, Our Children’s Trust; Executive Director, Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health;
Clinical Associate Professor, Stanford Children’s Health
THE FUTURE OF 2 BILLION CHILDREN IS
THREATENED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.
We exclusively represent children — free of charge — to protect their right to a stable climate.
-
We know the scientific prescription for a safe climate: return atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations to below 350 parts per million by 2100. Scientists rang the alarm, but governments have affirmatively promoted fossil fuels. To stop global heating, we bring scientists to court to show how, when, and why the fossil fuel era must end. Establishing the constitutional standard to a safe and stable climate for children and future generations sets the bar for government conduct. We seek legally binding judicial declarations that end new fossil fuel infrastructure and extraction, phase out fossil fuels no later than 2050, and restore the Earth’s energy balance.
-
Children are living through unprecedented wildfires, smoke, heat, storms, drought, and floods, and they know what needs to be done. Those in power need to listen to young people’s simple and serious demands. Trust science. Act now. Their health and their future depend on it. As advocates, our job is to make sure children’s voices are heard in courts of law, telling judges the stories of their burning lungs, lost homes, their hope, and their fear. It’s our job to obtain enforceable remedies against governments that are harming children and generations to come the politically silent majority. Constitutional impact litigation is the most important tool to secure durable climate justice.
-
We launched a global era of climate impact litigation to hold governments accountable for perpetuating the climate crisis. Emboldened and empowered by our inclusive, proactive approach, young people took to the courts, organized in the streets, and demanded that governments listen. Today, we partner with youth, lawyers, organizations, and the people to mobilize and realize the full power of our democracy. The world’s courts the third branch of government hold the power to enforce the right to life for all of our children. We train the next generation of legal minds to think big, advance the law, and boldly protect our democracy.
WE Recognize
Children’s Rights
Our work will be achieved when there is universal recognition of children’s climate rights by courts around the world and children’s fundamental rights to life on this planet are protected.
YOUTH-POWERED
LITIGATION
SAGOONICK V. STATE OF ALASKA II
Eight young people in Alaska filed a constitutional climate lawsuit to stop the Alaska LNG Project, a massive fossil fuel megaproject that would roughly triple Alaska's greenhouse gas emissions for decades to come. The youth assert the state’s policy and actions that support the project violate their rights under Alaska’s Constitution, including their right to a climate system that sustains human life.
GENESIS B. V. U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Eighteen children under 18 from California filed suit against the U.S. EPA for intentionally allowing decades of life-threatening climate pollution, resulting in their loss of home, health, and happiness. They are suing for the equal rights of children everywhere, who deserve a healthy planet and future.
HELD v. STATE OF MONTANA
After winning a groundbreaking decision in Held v. State of Montana on August 14, 2023, the state filed an appeal. On July 10, 2024, counsel for the 16 plaintiffs argued before the Montana Supreme Court to affirm the August 2023 ruling, declaring that laws that require the State to turn a blind eye to young people’s climate injuries while promoting fossil fuel activities violate their constitutional rights to a clean and healthful environment, including a livable climate, their dignity, safety and equal protection of the law.
navahine v. Hawaiʻi dOT
Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is the world’s first youth-led constitutional climate case directed at stopping climate pollution from transportation systems. On June 20, 2024, the 13 youth plaintiffs reached a landmark settlement with Hawai‘i Governor Green and HDOT Director Sinffen to fully decarbonize the state’s ground, air and interisland air transportation and protect children’s rights to a safe climate.
JULIANA V. UNITED STATES
For nearly nine years, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has aggressively filed motions to delay or dismiss this landmark constitutional climate case, even after U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken ruled in favor of the 21 youth plaintiffs and said they should be allowed to proceed to trial.
Biden’s DOJ is now taking its final swing to kill this case and silence these youth for good. We say no! Act now to rally around youth and #SaveJuliana by telling the Biden Administration and the DOJ: GO TO TRIAL. We demand the Juliana 21 be heard.
NaTALIE R. V. STATE OF UTAH
Seven young people from across the State of Utah filed a constitutional climate suit against their state government on March 15, 2022. The youth are asserting that state laws that require Utah’s government to maximize, promote, and systematically authorize the development of fossil fuels violate their rights under Utah’s Constitution.
On September 4, 2024, the youth plaintiffs will appear before the Utah Supreme Court to advocate for their right to be heard at trial. Attend the hearing and help PACK the courthouse!
WORLD-POWERED
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
LA ROSE V. HIS MAJESTY THE KING
A unanimous Federal Court of Appeals decision paves the path forward to trial for Canadian youth. La Rose v. His Majesty youth plaintiffs filed their Amended Statement of Claim on May 31, 2024, emphasizing the Court’s own acknowledgment that youth in Canada have the right to a safe climate system.
BRIEF ON THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY TO INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Our Children’s Trust, 21 North American youth, 18 global pediatric organizations, and Defensa Ambiental del Noroeste ask the Court to abandon the deadly, politically motivated 1.5°C target in the Paris Agreement and adopt a science-based standard that will protect human rights: 350 ppm CO₂.
IN THE NEWS
AUG 12, 2024 | News Coverage
MoForever
“That takes courage, says Nate Bellinger, the plaintiffs’ attorney at Our Children’s Trust. “To walk into court, take the stand while the lawyers for your state are looking at you, preparing to cross-examine you, and tell your story before a packed courtroom, that is something most adults will never do, let alone teenagers.”
AUG 14, 2024 | News Coverage
THIRTEEN PBS
“There are countless reasons why people choose to pursue law as a profession, ranging from intellectual stimulation to the potential of a lucrative career. For Mat dos Santos, they saw the law as a pathway to make a difference by entering the nonprofit legal world.”
AUG 22, 2024 | News Coverage
PBS Hawai‘i
“After reaching a historic settlement agreement, these youth advocates are now fully committed to making sure Hawaiʻi reaches its zero emissions goals by 2045. Navahine and Pāhonu share their story about the lawsuit and how climate change has impacted their communities.”
ACCOLADES
Freedom Forum honors the 16 youth plaintiffs in Held v. State of Montana with the 2024 Free Expression Award for their use of First Amendment freedoms to file a groundbreaking lawsuit.
Montana Audobon honors the 16 youth plaintiffs in Held v. State of Montana with the Conservationist of the Year Award for their historic, winning, youth-led constitutional climate lawsuit.
EarthDay.org honors the 16 youth plaintiffs in Held v. State of Montana with the Youth Climate Leadership Award for their victory in Helena, Montana on August 14, 2023.
EVENTS
Wed, SEPT 4 at 8am MDT
Utah Supreme Court
The seven youth plaintiffs in Natalie R. v. State of Utah are heading to the Utah Supreme Court for oral arguments, where they’ll advocate for their right to be heard at trial. If you’re in Salt Lake City, Utah, please join us in solidarity! We’ll cheer on the youth plaintiffs before heading to court, watch the hearing together and hear from the youth plaintiffs and their attorneys at a press conference and rally afterwards at Washington Square Park.
RSVP to attend in person here
RSVP to watch the hearing virtually here
Tue, AUG 27 at 7pm EST
Online Event and Action Party
Elders Climate Action is hosting Right to a Safe Climate: Sagoonick v. State of Alaska II with Our Children’s Trust attorney Joanna Zeigler and youth plaintiffs in the case, who will discuss their constitutional climate lawsuit against the state of Alaska and the LNG project. After the national call there will be a quick Action Party with the Climate Action Now app.
Register here
Tue, SEPT 3 at 12pm PT
Online Event
Please join the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, The UCLA Law Promise Institute Europe, The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA Law and Our Children’s Trust for a conversation on the historic Settlement of the youth-led constitutional climate lawsuit Navahine v. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation.
Register here