Juliana v. U.s. - Ten Years of Impact
Juliana v. United States was filed in August 2015 to secure children’s climate rights and protect future generations. The case faced more government opposition than any in history where the United States is a defendant, but nevertheless the Juliana 21 never backed down.
They fought for a decade across four presidential administrations andignited a global movement for recognition of our fundamental climate rights.
Young Women Making History: Rikki Held on Climate Litigation, Justice, and the Power of Youth Voices
Throughout history, young women have been at the forefront of the climate movement, challenging injustices and reshaping the future. This Women’s History Month, we celebrate those who are making history today, like Rikki Held, the lead youth plaintiff in Held v. State of Montana, the constitutional climate case that secured a groundbreaking victory for youth and safe climate. As one of nine young women plaintiffs in the case, Rikki is part of a powerful new generation of leaders proving that the voices of young women are indispensable in the fight for climate rights. Rikki holds a BA in Environmental Science from Colorado College and currently works as a science educator in Kenya through the Peace Corps. Her future plans include attending graduate school to continue earth and climate science research.
Honoring Women Experts in Youth-Led Climate Litigation
Women have long been at the forefront of movements for justice and equality, using their expertise, courage, and persistence to drive meaningful change. In the fight for climate rights, women are again leading the charge—bringing scientific knowledge, medical expertise, and policy advocacy to youth-led climate litigation. This Women’s History Month, we recognize the extraordinary women experts who have played a pivotal role in Our Children’s Trust’s groundbreaking cases, standing alongside young plaintiffs to hold governments accountable for the climate crisis.
Honoring the Past and Fighting for the Future
As a daughter born in the 1970s and the burgeoning of women’s rights, I was told I could do anything when I grew up. The world was open to me, to dream big, choose my career path, marry or not, make decisions about my own body, choose to have children or not, explore the big cities and the quiet mountains on my own, and help leave the world a better place for generations to come. Before my first birthday, the US Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment by the required two-thirds vote to send it to the states for ratification. No generation of American women before had been born into this kind of freedom and opportunity.
Florida’s Youth Take Legal Action to End State’s Fossil Fuel Dependence
The majority of Delaney Reynolds’ life has centered around activism and changing the world for the better. A multi-hyphenate advocate, author, educator, lawyer, and soon-to-be Ph.D. holder, Delaney has spent years working tirelessly to raise awareness of the severe threat climate change poses to her beloved home of Miami and to push her government to act with the urgency the climate crisis demands. At 14, she founded the Sink or Swim Project. At 16, she helped write a solar energy ordinance for the city of South Miami, which ultimately passed.
Florida’s Water Reckoning and the Rising Cost of Climate Change
When someone hears “Florida,” the ocean and beaches are often the first image that comes to mind. Florida’s ocean connection generated $39.9 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021 and paid $20.6 billion in wages, with tourism and recreation being the largest marine employer and source of GDP.[1] In fact, Florida employs more people in marine endeavors than any other state. This is not surprising as the ocean created all the land that we call Florida today. However, it is also the ocean that is generating Florida’s greatest climate impacts.
Our Hearts Are With Los Angeles
The LA fires, stoked by decades of burning fossil fuels and the hottest year on record in human history, are now burning through the hearts and lungs of the Southern California youth we represent and all of the LA children we stand for.
Carrying the Spirit of Aloha: Pahonu’s Journey for Climate Justice in Hawai‘i
For Pahonu C., a Native Hawaiian youth plaintiff in the groundbreaking Navahine v. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT lawsuit, climate justice is more than a fight—it’s a commitment to the land (‘āina), the community, and future generations. After achieving a historic Settlement Agreement with Hawaii’s government and HDOT, Pahonu reflects on the deep cultural values driving this work and the role young people play in shaping a sustainable future for Hawai‘i.
Defending Montana’s Judiciary & Constitutional Rights: A Statement from Co-Executive Directors Following Historic Ruling
It is deeply concerning to witness the attacks on Montana's judiciary by elected officials following the Montana Supreme Court's historic decision in Held v. State of Montana. These attacks, seemingly driven by fossil fuel special interests, reflect a troubling disregard for the true meaning of liberty and the right to life and property—not to mention the sworn duty of public officials to uphold and defend the Constitution.
Youth Plaintiff Genesis B. Takes a Stand Against the Climate Crisis
At just 18 years old, Genesis B., a lifelong resident of Long Beach, California, is already confronting the harsh realities of a warming planet. As a plaintiff in the youth-led climate lawsuit Genesis v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Genesis’s story sheds light on how the climate crisis is impacting young people on a deeply personal level.
Fighting for Montana’s Future: Grace’s Journey for Climate Justice
For Grace, a youth plaintiff in the historic constitutional climate lawsuit Held v. State of Montana, the fight for climate justice is deeply personal. Growing up in Montana, she fell in love with its breathtaking landscapes and the vibrant communities that call it home. Now, through her work with Our Children’s Trust, Grace is using her voice to hold leaders accountable and protect her state—and the planet—for generations to come. In this exclusive Q&A, Grace shares how her passion for climate rights began, her experience as a plaintiff in the first climate trial in U.S. history, and her hopes for a safe and livable future.
Empower Change: Activate Our Emotion
In the wake of devastating climate-fueled hurricanes, we reflect on the personal toll of this crisis and call for collective action. From our own staff grappling with the storms’ impacts, to young people like Avery displaced in Florida, and entire communities in North Carolina struggling to rebuild, the stories are both harrowing and galvanizing. This is a fight for fundamental rights, for life, liberty, and a livable planet. Together, we can empower the youth leading this charge and turn grief into transformative action.
Governments Are Perpetuating Climate, Health, and Nature Inequalities Hispanic Communities Face in the U.S.
There are nearly 9 million children living in America, and in 2022, the majority (41%) were Hispanic children under the age of 18 living in poverty—environments often neglected, industrialized, and riddled with pollution (1). For many Hispanics and Latinos, this is a reality shaped by deep-rooted social, economic, and environmental inequities, resulting from a discriminatory system that confines marginalized groups to segregated, toxic spaces.
How This Latina’s Passion for Climate Justice Fuels her Impact at Our Children’s Trust
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we are excited to highlight Aly Bonilla, Executive Legal Assistant at Our Children’s Trust. A proud Honduran raised in Norwalk, Connecticut, Aly joined our team earlier this year, bringing her passion and dedication to advancing our mission to protect children’s rights to a safe climate. Aly's deep-rooted commitment and her unique perspective as a member of the Latinx community enriche our work, and we are thrilled to have her as a vital part of our team.
Guided by Heritage, Fueled by Justice: Taleah’s Fight for Constitutional Rights and Historic Climate Victory in Montana
Rooted in the strength of her Indigenous and Hispanic heritage, Taleah is one of the courageous youth plaintiffs in the landmark Held v. State of Montana lawsuit. In 2023, she and her fellow youth plaintiffs took their state government to court for worsening the climate crisis and violating their constitutional rights. After the first trial of its kind in the U.S., Judge Seeley issued a historic ruling wholly in their favor. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we highlight Taleah, her pivotal role in this historic climate victory, and how her culture drives her relentless fight for climate rights and the protection of her land.
From Fighting America’s Climate Case to Lessons in Perú: A Youth Plaintiff’s Journey for Climate Justice
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we proudly highlight Sahara, one of the 21 youth plaintiffs in the constitutional climate lawsuit Juliana v. United States. Sahara is also a college student studying abroad in Cusco, Perú, and in the Q&A below, she shares her perspective on being a youth plaintiff in America’s Climate Case and the climate challenges facing Cusco’s communities.
A Word on Utah Supreme Court Hearing from Our Co-Executive Director
This week made me especially proud to work at Our Children’s Trust. I wanted to quickly share a little bit about how we’re making big moves in unexpected places, including the very conservative state of Utah.
United for Climate Action: From Wildland Conservation in Utah to Youth-Led Climate Litigation
Fighting the climate crisis through youth-led litigation would not be possible without the support of communities and global partners that fuel the climate movement. On September 4, 2024, the seven youth plaintiffs in the constitutional climate lawsuit Natalie R. v. State of Utah appeared before the Utah Supreme Court to advocate for their right to be heard at trial.
Fossil Fuels Come for The Greatest Snow on Earth
For more than sixty years, Utah’s “white gold” has been considered “the greatest snow on Earth”, with numerous ski areas and an Olympics to back up the claim(1). This snow, when it melts, supplies about 70% of the water to the Great Salt Lake(2). And the Great Salt Lake contributes ~$2.5 billion to Utah’s economy and supplies additional moisture to the mountains to make “the greatest snow on Earth”(3). In addition, the lake supports ~80% of Utah’s wetlands, provides for over 10 million migratory birds a year, and hosts 350 bird species(4).
Climate Crisis and Institutional Betrayal Inextricably Linked to Rising Mental Health Issues Among Children
Elizabeth Pinsky is the Associate Director at the Massachusetts General Center for Environment and Health and a child and adolescent psychiatrist and pediatrician. She also serves as a pro bono expert in Genesis v. EPA. The excerpt below is from her declaration filed on August 12, 2024, in support of the youth plaintiffs.