Youth in Hawai‘i Reach Historic Climate Settlement to Decarbonize It’s State Transportation Sector
I le‘a ka hula i ka ho‘opa‘a is a Hawaiian saying which translates to “the hula is pleasing because of the drummer.” Essentially, the saying means the smaller details that one pays little attention to are just as important as the major ones.
On the Bench with Delores Barr Weaver
We are proud to announce that Delores Barr Weaver created a 2024 Legacy Fund for Our Children’s Trust to advance our work to save our planet for our children’s sake. The Fund at Our Children’s Trust was established with a gift of one million dollars and serves as a fundraising challenge to our community. It is a gift designed to inspire generosity among as many people as possible.
This Alaska Native Youth is Taking Her State Government to Court to Shut Down Alaska LNG Project and Protect Young People’s Rights to Safe Climate
Summer is a young Iñupiat Alaskan from Unalakleet, Alaska and the named plaintiff in the new youth-led constitutional climate lawsuit Sagoonick v. State of Alaska II, where she along with 7 other young Alaskan’s are taking their government to court over climate change. These young Alaskans are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and already experiencing serious harms to their health, safety, and access to natural resources they depend on, including for subsistence and cultural traditions.
Courage on the Frontlines: Alaska’s Youth Sue to Stop Climate Crisis
Building on the foundation of more than a decade of Our Children’s Trust’s legal work in America’s Last Frontier, Sagoonick v. State of Alaska II seeks to secure recognition of the youth’s fundamental rights under Alaska’s Constitution and stop the Alaska LNG Project, a massive, state-led fossil fuel infrastructure project that would roughly triple Alaska’s emissions of climate pollution for decades to come.
The Last Frontier Places First in the U.S. Warming Derby
Thoughts of Alaska bring to my mind massive glaciers (the largest glaciers outside of the continental ice sheets), endless frozen ground to the horizon (called permafrost), towering mountains (the highest relief of any mountain on the planet), so much snow and avalanches, dark spruce forests, never-ending days in the boreal summer sun and never-ending winter nights lit by the aurora borealis, lazy brown bears, mad moose cows with their quirky calves, clumsy caribou, cold streams choked with salmon, coastal waters teaming with food, huckleberries, and more lazy brown bears (haven’t seen a polar bear in Alaska, yet…). You know, the last frontier.
Genesis v. EPA Youth Plaintiff Dives into Climate Impacts and Why Taking Legal Action is Important to Him
In a Q&A session, Avroh describes how the climate crisis is impacting him both physically and mentally, outlines his goals for the lawsuit, and reflects on his experience during his first court hearing. He also offers a message to other young people who feel hopeless amid the crisis.
Brown v. Board of Education: Celebrating the Anniversary, the Young People Who Led the Civil Rights Movement and The young people Fighting for climate rights today
Seventy years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that separating school children by race relegated black children to an inferior status that “may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone.” Thus, racial segregation in schools violated the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.
Our Children’s Trust Government Affairs Intern Reflects on Her Week in DC, Meeting Members of Congress and Rallying to Save America’s Climate Case
Youth in the climate movement are often asked: “What keeps you going in this fight?” My new answer is witnessing and participating in the passion and hard work behind the scenes of the #SaveJuliana DC week, hosted by Our Children’s Trust.
Youth and courts have given Pres. Biden a solution to the climate crisis. He should use it.
In the landmark Held v. State of Montana decision last year, a trial court found in favor of 16 children and young adults who sued the state for its role in contributing to climate change. As two of the 21 youth plaintiffs in another Constitutional climate case, Juliana v. United States, we believe this groundbreaking decision can light a path toward comprehensive climate action at the federal level.
Standing in Solidarity with the Juliana 21
Layla, the named plaintiff in Layla v. Commonwealth of Virginia, joined hundreds of supporters in demanding justice for Juliana on Earth Day weekend. Standing in front of the White House, she gave a compelling speech:
Juliana Youth Plaintiff Gives Moving Speech During D.C. Rally Urging President Biden to Let the Youth be Heard
On April 21, 2024, youth plaintiffs in Juliana v. U.S., Genesis v. EPA, Held v. State of Montana and Layla v. Commonwealth of Virginia led a powerful rally for youth-led climate rights at the White House in Washington DC. The “My Voice. My Rights. Our Future.” rally to #SaveJuliana follows nearly nine years and 22 attempts through three presidential administrations to kill the only case in the U.S. targeting the federal government for its actions that not only exacerbate the climate crisis and disproportionately harm our youngest generation, but also violate their fundamental rights to life, liberty, and property.
Our Children’s Trust MoveS to A Dual Leadership Model
After 13 years as executive director, I am excited to have a partner to share this responsibility. I will continue to drive the development of cutting-edge legal strategies leveraging the incredible momentum gained from our landmark decision in Held v. State of Montana last year and as we prepare for trial in Navahine v. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (DOT).
This Montana Youth Reflects on Earth Month, Her Victorious Climate Lawsuit and the Lawsuit That Inspired It
Eva is one the young plaintiffs in the historic Held v. State of Montana lawsuit brought by Our Children’s Trust, and this Earth Month, she's reflecting on the case's influence on her and her community, the significance of youth-powered justice, and expressing what this special month signifies to her.
Why Climate Boomers Back the Kids in Youth v. Gov — and how you can help
Across the United States and the world, kids are suing governments for supporting the fossil fuel industry, harming them and endangering their futures. Elders are lining up to support these cases. Here’s how you can help.
My Voice. My Rights. Our Future: Why this Juliana Plaintiff Continues to Fight for Climate Justice
At the beginning of the new year, United States District Court Judge Ann Aiken again delivered a clarion call for the world when she denied the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) motion to dismiss Juliana v. United States, the landmark constitutional climate lawsuit against the federal government filed by 21 young people across the country – me being one of them.