Since Lali was six years old, she has lived with smoke season from the increasing wildfires due to climate change. Years before the Covid pandemic began, Lali’s family was already wearing masks during periods of poor air quality from smoke during California's worsening wildfire season. The smell of smoke inside her bedroom and at school is something she hasn’t been able to escape. Sometimes schools are even closed for bad air and teachers would have to wear full gas masks because the smoke was so bad. For Lali, the smoke makes her feel tired and irritates her eyes and increasing heat makes it difficult for her to concentrate in school.

When she was in second grade, Lali read a sign that said, “There is No Planet B” and since then has felt we need to take better care of our planet, there really is no other option. Now in middle school, Lali is part of the lawsuit to do everything she can do to build a better future. She loves being outside, biking to school, swimming and hiking the redwoods - all things that need a clean environment.