Youth Plaintiff Genesis B. Takes a Stand Against the Climate Crisis
Genesis B., Lead Youth Plaintiff in Genesis v. EPA. Photo by Robin Loznak
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.
For Genesis, rising temperatures are more than just an inconvenience—they are a direct threat to her health, education, and quality of life. Her family’s home, designed for the moderate coastal temperatures that once defined Southern California, lacks air conditioning. The cost of installing it is prohibitive, leaving her vulnerable during the region’s increasingly common extreme heat days, when temperatures soar to 95°F or higher.
“I live in a beach city, but temperatures are a lot higher than they used to be, so it can get up to 100 degrees in my house. And there’s nothing my family can really do to cool down because we don’t have air conditioning in our home,” said Genesis.
The consequences are profound. Heat exhaustion has forced her to miss meaningful moments of her childhood, limited her participation in activism, and deprived her of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to be recognized for her efforts. On hot days, Genesis has to wait until evening to do her schoolwork when temperatures finally drop enough for her to focus. Her ability to thrive as a student, an advocate, and a young adult is diminished by circumstances beyond her control.
Wildfires and Pollution: An Unrelenting Threat
Extreme heat isn’t the only challenge Genesis faces. Wildfires, driven by prolonged drought and rising temperatures, send ash and smoke into her community. Without air conditioning, she has no choice but to open windows to cool her home, which lets in smoke, ash, and pollen. These conditions worsen her allergies, cause fatigue, and leave her with persistent congestion. Masks have become a necessary part of her life during wildfire season.
“We are constantly faced with wildfires, so I have to keep my windows shut so I don’t breathe in the smoke that blows into my home,” Genesis explained.
Flooding is another growing risk. After Tropical Storm Hilary in August 2023, flooding on the I-5 freeway made travel from her home for a planned trip impossible. The mounting unpredictability of California’s climate adds another layer of stress to her life.
Climate Anxiety: The Burden of an Uncertain Future
Genesis’s climate struggles extend beyond the physical. Like many young people, she experiences climate anxiety, an overwhelming fear of the future in the face of worsening environmental crises. Instead of relishing her childhood and anticipating college or exploring potential careers, Genesis finds herself consumed by worry for her four younger siblings and the world they will inherit.
“This has resulted in climate anxiety, and it affects my ability to focus on things teens should be able to focus on, like college and my career,” she said.
Fighting for a Save, Livable Future
Despite these challenges, Genesis remains steadfast in her advocacy. Her Afro-Latina and Indigenous heritage inspires her to connect deeply with the Earth, and her activism began early—at age six when she adopted a vegan lifestyle to reduce her environmental impact. Today, she continues to educate others about the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions on social media, events, and through her lawsuit.
When asked to describe her vision for a safe and livable climate, Genesis paints a picture of a just world:
“A safe and livable climate looks like a climate where every person has the ability to thrive and we don’t have to worry about extreme heat or cold. It’s a climate where we can enjoy a nice breezy day without having to worry about the potential for fires…where people don’t have to be rich to stay cool or warm and they don’t have to worry about their homes catching on fire or being destroyed by floods.”
The Genesis v. EPA youth plaintiffs in front of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California after a hearing in April 2024. Photo by Robin Loznak
As the lead plaintiff in Genesis v. EPA, Genesis is making her voice heard and calling on the EPA to stop allowing life-threatening levels of fossil fuel climate pollution and do what scientists say is necessary—phase out fossil fuel pollution no later than 2050.
Her story is a powerful reminder of the human cost of climate inaction, the decades-long discrimination of children by the EPA—and the strength of the young people fighting for a better future.
For Genesis, this lawsuit isn’t just about legal action—it’s about hope, justice, and the right to live without fear of the next heatwave, wildfire, or flood. Her courage and determination are an inspiration to all of us to take bold steps in addressing the climate crisis.
