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.
This Young Californian is Fighting to Protect Children’s Rights in Equal Protection, Constitutional Climate Suit, Genesis v. EPA
Noah is one of 18 young plaintiffs in the landmark climate lawsuit, Genesis v. EPA seeking to hold the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accountable for violating their fundamental constitutional rights to equal protection of the law and their fundamental rights to life by allowing life-threatening levels of fossil fuel climate pollution.
From Calvin Ball to Climate Crisis: A Genesis Plaintiff’s Plea for Change
I love my city, but I don’t know how much my city loves me. I’m a young person of color and I don’t feel seen by leaders. Being Muslim and female already makes it harder to be listened to. Being young and not even of voting age, compounds my ability to make a difference and even be seen or listened to.
For Children Being Discriminated by EPA, Volunteering and Activism Isn’t Enough
I joined Genesis v. EPA as a youth plaintiff because I see the climate crisis worsening right before my eyes, and it scares me. I know that my health and quality of life will be increasingly harmed as fossil fuel pollution continues, and I want to have equal rights to adults, and past generations when it comes to the livability of our climate and my home community.
Hawai‘i Youth-Led Constitutional Climate Case Makes History
Thirteen young people across Hawai‘i made history on June 20, 2024, when they announced a historic Settlement Agreement in their constitutional climate lawsuit Navahine v. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation.
Youth in Hawai‘i Reach Historic Climate Settlement to Decarbonize Its 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.
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.
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.
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.