For Children Being Discriminated by EPA, Volunteering and Activism Isn’t Enough
August 14, 2024
Gensis v. EPA youth plaintiffs at court hearing in Los Angeles. Photo by Robin Loznak
Avroh S. is a youth plaintiff in Genesis v. EPA. The excerpt below is from his declaration filed on August 12, 2024, in response to the defendant's motion to dismiss.
“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. I want my government to make decisions about pollution and the climate crisis that take me and other children equally into account, and maybe even prioritize us, since we are so disproportionately hurt.
During the last hearing in our case, Judge Fitzgerald suggested young people can make an impact by volunteering and getting involved. While that is true to an extent, my experience shows me that I cannot adequately protect my climate system through these actions alone. My experience shows me actions like volunteering can only go so far, and that without the right to vote, I need to direct the full extent of my voice to the court.
I want the court to know about what I’ve already tried, about how I continue to fight for a safe, livable climate future every day, and why it’s not enough.
But as someone who can’t vote, I’m not sure how far my voice can go. I can’t vote for candidates who support the lives of children like me over the funds they receive. While many of our efforts may be strong-willed, they lack the political prowess and potency that a vote or real lobbying dollars would enable. In terms of my advocacy, I often find myself having nothing on the table.
I know that whatever I do, until the federal government stops treating me and other youth as less worthy of a safe climate, nothing I do will be enough to protect my rights.
I regularly experience heat, smoke, and ash. I get headaches, congestion, coughing, nose bleeds as a result and am often trapped inside during smoke season. Climate change has harmed my ability to play sports, enjoy family vacations, and even go to school. Part of the reason I quit soccer was that playing through wildlife smoke was something I didn’t want to put myself through. But I want the court to understand that all of the harm I’ve already experienced is not done. It’s going to get even worse if no one does anything to stop it and if the courts never look at our claims. The reports show this fire season, which is already incredibly bad in California, could get even worse in the coming months. It’s getting hotter and drier. But, there is still time to help us. Barely. There is still time to avert the ongoing potential for future harm to ourselves. We’ve undergone far too much and will continue to experience the inconceivable if we fail to draw the line. Shouldn’t the line be equal treatment at least, and protecting children’s lives?
It’s crushing to know that my life is valued less than the adults of today and yesterday and that future lives are valued less. It makes me feel terrible. It makes me not want to have kids. To see the profound and far-reaching impact of the pollution EPA is allowing and permitting come back and hurt my community and myself is purely devastating. These scars may never heal, but we can avert future ones, ongoing ones—and we can start to heal. The gravity of our situation is monumental, but I know we can work to build a better future.”
Read Avroh’s full declaration here.