Vic Barrett

Age: 25 | Hometown: White Plains, New York


"Climate change isn't just about temperatures and weather, it's about people. Our earth will be here for millennia, it's up to us to decide if humanity will be too."


Vic is from low-lying land in New York, which is threatened by rising sea levels and more frequent storm surges, and has felt firsthand climate impacts in the form of Hurricane Sandy, when his home lost power and his school and local transport shut down. Vic was a Fellow with the Alliance for Climate Education, and traveled to Paris to attend and speak at the COP21 UN Conference on Climate Change.

After marching in solidarity with more than 400,000 people at the People’s Climate March in New York City, he organized his peers in local frontline climate campaigns, met with the Minister of Environment and Energy for the Maldives, and met with former U.S. astronaut, Kathryn D. Sullivan, who now serves as the Administrator for NOAA. He spoke at the United Nations headquarters in New York City for the High-Level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

He cares deeply about climate change, justice, and human rights, especially regarding the ways climate change affects young people like him.

News reel

June 18, 2019 - People
Kids Suing the U.S. Government to Take Action Against Climate Change: It's a '911' Situation

June 4, 2019 - New York Times
Judges Give Both Sides a Grilling in Youth Climate Case Against the Government

March 21, 2019 - Vogue
Do Americans Have a Constitutional Right to a Livable Planet? Meet the 21 Young People Who Say They Do

March 6, 2019 - O Magazine
7 Ways You Can Help Save the Planet Right Now

December 10, 2018 - The Hill
Protesters disrupt US fossil fuels promotional event: 'Keep it in the ground'

December 10, 2018 - Grist
Team Trump promoted coal at the U.N. climate talks. Young activists busted it up.

December 10, 2018 - Reuters
Protesters disrupt U.S. fossil fuel event at climate talks

September 20, 2018 - Impact Alpha
Young people aren’t waiting for permission to lead the reGeneration

March 19, 2018 - The Root
Young Futurists 2018: These Are the Leaders This Country So Desperately Needs

October 24, 2017 - OPB
What It's Like To Be A Teen Who Sues The Government Over Climate Change 

October 24, 2017 - KUOW
For this teenager, rebellion means suing the government over climate change

April 28, 2017 - Teen Vogue
Meet Teen Vogue’s Water Warriors

May 10, 2016 - New York Times
In Novel Tactic on Climate Change, Citizens Sue Their Governments

April 22, 2016 - Refinery29
These Amazing Teen Girls Are Leading The Charge Against Global Climate Change

April 14, 2016 - Democracy Now!
Landmark Climate Lawsuit: Meet the Youth Activists Suing the U.S. Government & Fossil Fuel Industry

April 9, 2016 - Associated Press
Climate change lawsuit by 21 youths takes big step forward

December 12, 2015 - BBC
COP21: The teen suing Obama over climate change

November 10, 2015 - Vice
Meet One of the Teens Suing the Federal Government Over Global Warming