Through Judicial Action

The landmark case of Juliana v. US, brought by 21 young people in 2015, argues that the federal government’s duty to serve as a trustee of resources extends to the atmosphere, and that it had thus failed in that constitutional duty. Their complaint asserts that, through the government's affirmative actions causing climate change, it has violated the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property, as well as failed to protect essential public trust resources. Still unresolved, a full and fascinating history of this litigation can be found on our JULIANA V. U.S page here.

ARE THERE OTHER YOUTH CASES?

Youth in Montana took up a similar fight to Juliana vs. US, but on a state level. They won the landmark case on August 14, 2023 when a judge ruled that the state’s failure to consider climate change when approving fossil fuel projects was unconstitutional. The State appealed to the Montana Supreme Court in September 2023 and on July 10, 2024 the youth plaintiffs and their attorneys argued to uphold their historic ruling before the state’s highest court. In December, 2024, the Montana Supreme Court upheld the decision of the trial court in the landmark case, Held v State of Montana, siding with the 16 youth plaintiffs who had sued the state over its promotion of fossil fuel extraction and its failure to consider climate change impacts in its decision-making. Really good NYT podcast here from 6/16/2023 when case was being heard.
Youth in Alaska filed a constitutional climate lawsuit in June, 2024 to stop the Alaska LNG Project, a massive fossil fuel megaproject that would roughly triple Alaska’s greenhouse gas emissions for decades to come. In October, 2024 the state of Alaska asked the court to dismiss. No ruling yet.
Eighteen children under eighteen from California filed Genesis B. vs EPA on December 10, 2023 against the EPA for allegedly violating their constitutional rights by allowing pollution from burning fossil fuels to continue despite knowing the harm it poses to kids. On May 14, 2024, a federal judge dismissed this lawsuit.
Navahine vs. Hawaii Department of Transportation is the world’s first youth-led constitutional climate case directed at stopping climate pollution from transportation systems. On June 20, 2024, the 13 youth plaintiffs reached a landmark agreement to fully decarbonize Hawaii’s transportation system by 2045.

NEWS

The New York Times

Youths Who Sued Trump Over Orders to ‘Unleash’ Energy Try to Revive Case

By Karen Zraick 04/13/26

A group of 22 young people who sued President Trump over his executive orders on energy told an appeals court on Monday that their case had been wrongfully dismissed. The group is trying to revive…

E&E NEWS

9th Circuit rejects youth climate lawsuit against EPA

By Lesley Clark 04/09/26

A federal appeals court has soundly rejected a youth-led climate lawsuit that accused federal environmental regulators of discriminating against children by placing less value on the future benefits of curbing planet-warming pollution.

The New York Times

Youth Climate Activists Sue Trump Administration Over Executive Orders

By Karen Zraick 05/29/25

Young people who sued state governments over climate change have begun a legal challenge aimed at President Trump’s spate of executive orders on climate and the environment. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in…

E&E News

California youth appeal climate case against EPA

By Lesley Clark 04/14/25

A group of California youth seeking to hold EPA accountable for planet-warming emissions is appealing a federal court ruling that found the young climate activists lacked standing to bring their lawsuit.

E&E News

Alaska youth ask court to stay ownership while they challenge LNG project

By Lesley Clark 04/07/25

A group of young Alaskans who last month lost a climate lawsuit against a proposed liquefied natural gas project are asking the state’s Supreme Court to block a transfer of the project to a private…

The Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Supreme Court rules on youth climate change lawsuit

By Anastasia Hufham 03/21/25

Utah’s highest court on Thursday ruled against a group of teens who say the state’s energy policies are hurting the climate, their health and their futures — and violating the Utah constitution.

Montana Free Press

Montana Supreme Court sides with youth plaintiffs in landmark climate lawsuit

By Amanda Eggert 12/18/24

The Montana Supreme Court has upheld a lower court’s ruling in a precedent-setting constitutional climate lawsuit brought by 16 young Montanans.

BBC

Top UN court to rule on key climate questions

By Matt McGrath 12/02/24

The world’s top court has begun hearing evidence in a significant case that may clarify the legal responsibilities of governments in relation to climate change.

Alaska Public Media npr

State argues court should dismiss climate lawsuit from eight young Alaskans

By Eric Stone and Alaska Public Media-Juneau 10/15/24

The state of Alaska is asking a court to dismiss a lawsuit by eight young Alaskans arguing that efforts to build a North Slope natural gas pipeline violate the state constitution.

The New York Times

Youth Group Asks Supreme Court to Revive a Landmark Climate Lawsuit

By Karen Zraick 09/12/24

A group of young people who filed a landmark climate change lawsuit in 2015 against the federal government, only to have their suit thrown out, are turning to the Supreme Court in an attempt to…

Our Children's Trust

Defending Historic Ruling!

07/29/24

Judge Seeley found wholly in favor of the youth Plaintiffs, enshrining into law science-based protections for children’s most fundamental rights, making Held the world’s first, winning, youth-led constitutional climate lawsuit to have gone to trial.…

Montana Free Press

Montana Supreme Court hears Held v. Montana youth climate lawsuit

By Amanda Eggert 07/10/24

Attorneys weighed in on the extent of the Montana Constitution’s environmental protections and the separation of powers Wednesday in one of the highest-profile climate lawsuits in the country. During an hour-long hearing that drew hundreds…

youthvgovfilm

YOUTH v GOV the documentary

03/30/23

YOUTH v GOV is the story of the Juliana v. The United States of America constitutional lawsuit and the 21 American youth, ages 14 to 25, who are taking on the world’s most powerful government.…

Our Children's Trust

Youth v. Gov is what we do at Our Children’s Trust: representing and supporting youth securing their legal right to a safe climate

03/30/23

The world’s only non-profit public interest law firm dedicated exclusively to securing the legal rights of youth to a healthy atmosphere and safe climate, based on the best available science.

Our Children Trust

Previous Cases and Legal Actions in Montana

03/28/23

Youth petitioned the Montana Supreme Court for original jurisdiction asking the court to declare “(1) that the State of Montana holds the atmosphere in trust for the present and future citizens of the state of…

Columbia Law School

Environmental Rights in State Constitutions

08/31/21

The constitutions of more than three-quarters of the countries on earth have explicit reference to environmental rights or responsibilities In the last several years courts in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Australia, Pakistan, Nepal and Colombia…

Climate Home News

How youth climate court cases became a global trend

04/30/21

This week Germany’s supreme court ruled that the country’s climate law is partly unconstitutional and ordered the government to draw up clear emissions reduction targets after 2030.

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MORE NEWS

Al Jazeera

‘Groundbreaking’: How children in Hawaii won landmark climate case

By Al Jazeera Staff 06/21/24

In an historic settlement of a climate change lawsuit brought by 13 children and young activists in 2022, the Hawaiian department of transport agreed on Thursday to decarbonise its transport sector with a goal of…

Earthjustice

Historic Agreement Reached in Hawaiʻi Youth-Led Constitutional Climate Complaint

06/20/24

Today, June 20, 2024, youth plaintiffs in the Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation constitutional climate suit joined Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) Director Edwin Sniffen and Governor Josh Green to announce and celebrate a…

WFAE

Eight young people are suing Alaska to stop a major natural gas project

By Kavitha George 06/19/24

Young people are suing the state of Alaska to block a controversial natural gas project. They argue more fossil fuel development will make human-driven climate change worse. Alaska Public Media's Kavitha George reports.

Legal Planet

The Hawai’i Youth Climate Trial

By Evan George and Cara Horowitz 06/18/24

Last summer, many Americans were glued to the events unfolding in Maui as a raging inferno overtook the town of Lahaina, trapping thousands and killing at least 99 people.   This summer, we’ll see 13 youth…

Alaska Public Media

8 young Alaskans reignite a court fight over climate change and fossil fuel development

By Kavitha George 06/07/24

Linnea Lentfer grew up in Gustavus, a town of 600 people tucked into the vast, scenic wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park in Southeast Alaska. Her father first set eyes on Gustavus on a high…

The Guardian

Young Alaskans sue state over fossil fuel project they claim violates their rights

By Dharna Noor 05/23/24

Plaintiffs claim $38.7bn gas export project, which would triple state’s greenhouse gas emissions, infringes constitutional rightsEight young people are suing the government of Alaska – the nation’s fastest-warming state – claiming a major new fossil…

Source NM

Supreme Court oral arguments set for July 10 in Held v. Montana case

By Blair Miller 05/23/24

The Montana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on July 10 in the state’s appeal of the Held v. Montana case, after which the court will decide whether the State of Montana is indeed violating…

Our Children's Trust

Courage on the Frontlines: Alaska’s Youth Sue to Stop Climate Crisis

By Andrew Welle 05/22/24

On May 22, 2024, eight youth from across Alaska, supported by Our Children’s Trust, filed a new constitutional climate lawsuit against their state government. Building on the foundation of more than a decade of Our…

Los Angeles Times

Judge dismisses California kids’ climate lawsuit. They plan to try again

By Alex Wigglesworth 05/14/24

After a federal judge dismissed a landmark climate lawsuit filed by 18 California children against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the youth plaintiffs plan to amend and resubmit their allegations, their attorneys say.

Politicopro

Legal jousting intensifies over next step in kids climate case

By Lesley Clark 04/08/24

Six retired Montana Supreme Court justices are urging the state’s highest court to uphold a landmark legal victory for young climate activists. It comes as the state of Montana has asked the state Supreme Court…

Yale Climate Connections

Young people push for a Green New Deal for schools across the U.S.

By YCC Team 02/23/24

So students in the Sunrise Movement have been lobbying their local school boards across the country to pass a Green New Deal for Schools. In the Boulder Valley School District in Colorado, they recently celebrated…

The Guardian

Greta Thunberg goes on trial over London oil industry protests

By Damien Gayle 02/01/24

Greta Thunberg defied a police officer’s instruction to comply with an order to stop protesting outside an oil industry summit in central London last year, a court has heard.

Heatmap NEWS

The Climate Lawsuit Three Presidents Tried to Kill Is Finally Going to Court

By Neel Dhanesha 01/05/24

In the last days of 2023, Judge Ann Aiken of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon ended an argument that had lasted eight years and three presidential administrations. Juliana v. United States,…

E&E News

Environmental lawyers are worried about the new youth climate case

By Lesley Clark 01/05/24

Environmental lawyers fear that a lawsuit launched by California youth to hold EPA accountable for planet-warming emissions could backfire on other climate cases.

Los Angeles Times

18 California children sue EPA over climate change

By Alex Wigglesworth 12/13/23

Eighteen California children are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for allegedly violating their constitutional rights by allowing pollution from burning fossil fuels to continue despite knowing the harm it poses to kids.

TIME

The Kids Who Sued Montana Over Climate Change and Won Say It’s Just the Start

By Ninis Twumasi 12/12/23

n 2020, 16 plaintiffs, ages 5 to 22, took the state of Montana to court for, they said, violating their right to a clean environment, which is enshrined in the state’s constitution. This year, after…

Politico Pro

DOJ: Montana climate ruling doesn’t help Juliana lawsuit

By Lesley Clark 09/13/23

The Biden administration has told a court that a big youth-led climate victory in Montana should have no bearing on a similar lawsuit lodged against the federal government.

The New York Times

Children Have a Right to Sue Nations Over Climate, U.N. Panel Says

By Somini Sengupta 08/28/23

Young people around the world are increasingly taking their governments to court for failing to reduce climate pollution, and on rare occasions, they are winning. This week, their efforts received an endorsement from an independent…

The Washington Post

The Montana climate kids’ lawsuit has energized activists, including this one

By Kate Selig 08/27/23

During a quiet Monday morning at home in Flagstaff, Ariz., Tia Hatton took a break from work and checked social media. What she saw left her stunned and exhilarated. “The Montana kids won!” she repeated…

Sojourners

Young Evangelical Activists Face A Key Climate Barrier: Their Elders

By Bekah MCNeel 08/23/23

In the year 2050, when today’s 3-year-olds will be 30-year-olds, climate scientists expect the height of the slowly unfolding climate disaster to have arrived. The specifics vary slightly, but most experts warn that some regions…

npr

Montana youth climate ruling could set precedent for future climate litigation

By Nathan Rott and Seyma Bayram 08/23/23

A Montana judge's historic ruling in a climate lawsuit brought by 16 young plaintiffs could have implications for future climate litigation, legal experts say.

The New York Times

With TikTok and Lawsuits, Gen Z Takes on Climate Change

By David Gelles 08/19/23

As Kaliko Teruya was coming home from her hula lesson on August 8, her father called. The apartment in Lahaina was gone, he said, and he was running for his life. He was trying to…

The Lever News

LEVER TIME: Montana’s Monumental Climate Win

By Frank Cappello 08/17/23

This past Monday, a judge in Montana ruled that young people are entitled to a “clean and healthful” environment. The case, known as Held v. Montana, included 16 plaintiffs ages 5 to 22 who testified…

The New York Times

Judge Rules in Favor of Montana Youths in Landmark Climate Case

By David Gelles and Mike Baker 08/16/23

A group of young people in Montana won a landmark lawsuit on Monday when a judge ruled that the state’s failure to consider climate change when approving fossil fuel projects was unconstitutional.

The New York Times

Climate Change Was on Trial in Montana

By David Gelles 08/15/23

The state of Montana has a constitutional obligation to protect its residents from climate change. That was the stunning ruling from a judge who delivered a landmark decision on Monday. It compels Montana, a major…

AP News

Young environmental activists prevail in first-of-its-kind climate change trial in Montana

By Amy Beth Hanson and Matthew Brown 08/15/23

Young environmental activists scored what experts described as a ground-breaking legal victory Monday when a Montana judge said state agencies were violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by allowing fossil fuel…

The Washington Post

Judge rules in favor of Montana youths in landmark climate decision

By Kate Selig 08/14/23

The court determined that a provision in the Montana Environmental Policy Act has harmed the state’s environment and the young plaintiffs by preventing Montana from considering the climate impacts of energy projects. The provision is…

Our Children's Trust

We Won

08/14/23

Today, for the first time in United States history, a court ruled on the merits of a case that the government violated the constitutional rights of children through laws and actions that promote fossil fuels,…

Youth v. Gov

Sweeping Constitutional Win for Held v. State of Montana Youth Plaintiffs

08/14/23

In an historic first, Judge Kathy Seeley in the First Judicial District Court of Montana ruled wholly in favor of the 16 youth plaintiffs in Held v. State of Montana, declaring that the state of…

Axios

Montana judge rules in favor of youth in historic climate change lawsuit

By Jacob Knutson 08/14/23

A judge in Montana ruled on Monday that the state violated the state constitutional rights of 16 young people by promoting the use of fossil fuels and ignoring the effects of greenhouse gas emissions, which…

Drilled News

Montana Kids Just Won Their Landmark Climate Lawsuit. Here’s Why.

By Dana Drugmand 08/14/23

Sixteen young Montanans have accomplished something unprecedented in U.S. history – holding their government accountable for exacerbating the climate crisis and thereby violating their fundamental constitutional rights. In a ruling released August 14, 2023, district…

The Washington Post

Judge rules in favor of Montana youths in landmark climate decision

By Kate Selig 08/14/23

In the first ruling of its kind nationwide, a Montana state court decided Monday in favor of young people who alleged the state violated their right to a “clean and healthful environment” by promoting the…

The Washington Post

The Montana youths behind a historic climate lawsuit, and the places they love

By Kate Selig 08/05/23

It has been described as “landmark” litigation, “groundbreaking” and “first-of-its-kind.” But behind one of the nation’s most watched climate lawsuits — aimed at demonstrating that Montana’s promotion of fossil fuels violates the state’s constitution —…

Politico Pro

Youth in Hawaii get court date for 2nd U.S. climate trial

By Lesley Clark 08/04/23

Young people suing Hawaii’s transportation agency for contributing to climate change will go to trial next June, becoming the second group of youth in the United States to take their government to court over global…

UN Environment Programme

Global Climate Litigation Report: 2023 Status Review

07/27/23

Climate litigation represents a frontier solution to change the dynamics of the fight against climate change. This Global Climate Litigation Report: 2023 Status Review shows that people are increasingly turning to the courts to combat…

Inside Climate News

In a Montana Courtroom, Debate Over Whether States Can Make a Difference on Climate Change, and if They Have a Responsibility to Try

By Richard Forbes 06/28/23

At the close of the final day of their lawsuit against Montana for its failure to rein in development of fossil fuels in the state and slow climate change, all but one of the 16…

Yale climate connections

The six big surprises in the Montana youth climate trial

By Karin Kirk 06/26/23

Montana’s landmark youth-led climate trial entered its second week June 19, and attention turned to lawyers for the state of Montana as they lined up to make their case. The plaintiffs’ case the previous week…

Heatmap News

Why the Montana Climate Kids Can’t Lose

By Neel Dhanesha 06/23/23

When Lander Busse spoke to the press after closing arguments in Held v. Montana, a trailblazing youth-led climate case that wrapped on Tuesday, he sounded optimistic.

E&E News

5 takeaways from historic Montana climate trial

By Lesley Clark 06/23/23

Sixteen young people who sued the state of Montana over its deference to the fossil fuel industry wrapped up the nation’s first youth-led climate trial earlier this week and now await a ruling. Eleven of…

npr

Defense arguments are set to open in a landmark climate case brought by Montana youth

By Ellis Juhlin 06/19/23

Attorneys for the State of Montana said Friday they will not call one of their top expert witnesses in the only youth climate lawsuit to make it all the way to trial in the U.S.

Inside Climate News

Inside the unexpectedly wild landmark Montana youth climate trial

By Karin Kirk 06/15/23

When I got an assignment to cover the landmark youth climate lawsuit that went to trial in Montana this week, I thought I was going to be able to pop in, grab some salient quotes,…

Grist

‘It’s time for my government to take action’: A conversation with a youth plaintiff in Held v. Montana

By Akielly Hu 06/14/23

Hello, and welcome to Part 2 of our series on personal action in the face of climate change. (Check out Part 1 here, looking at why individual action is a fraught concept, and how individuals…

The Guardian

‘My life and my home’: young people start to testify at historic US climate trial

By Dharna Noor 06/13/23

The US’s first-ever trial in a constitutional climate lawsuit kicked off on Monday morning in a packed courtroom in Helena, Montana.

The New York Times

A Landmark Youth Climate Trial Begins in Montana

By Mike Baker 06/12/23

A landmark climate change trial opened on Monday in Montana, where a group of young people are contending that the state’s embrace of fossil fuels is destroying pristine environments, upending cultural traditions and robbing young…

Youthv.gov

Historic Climate Trial: Held v. State of Montana

06/12/23

The first-ever constitutional climate trial in the U.S. - led by Montana youth - has begun!

DeSmog

Montana Repeals State Energy Policy as Climate Trial Nears

By Dana Drugmand 04/03/23

Montana has repealed its 30-year-old energy policy – including a 2011 amendment that prioritized fossil-fuel development. The move comes as a June trial date approaches for a youth-led climate lawsuit against the state.

api.neonemails.com

This will be the world’s first ever climate trial of a state transportation system

04/01/23

“These 14 youth are making history. For the first time ever on our planet, these young people in Hawaiʻi are holding their state transportation department accountable for its actions that worsen the climate crisis and…

The New York Times

In Montana, it’s youth vs. the state in a landmark climate case

By David Gelles 03/24/23

Sixteen young Montanans have sued their state, arguing that its support of fossil fuels violates the state Constitution....

Deseret News

Is a healthy environment a ‘fundamental right’? Utah Supreme Court to hear climate case

By Kaitlyn Bancroft 03/17/23

Natalie R. v. State of Utah was filed by Our Children’s Trust, a nonprofit public interest law firm that provides campaign-based legal services to youths seeking to "secure their legal rights to a safe climate,"…

earthjustice

First Court Hearing in Historic Youth Climate Rights Case Held in Hawai‘i

01/26/23

Youth plaintiffs and their attorneys in the constitutional climate case Navahine F. v. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation appeared today before the Honorable Judge Jeffrey P. Crabtree at the First Circuit Environmental Court in Honolulu to…

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THROUGH JUDICIAL ACTION