Twenty-one teenage climate change activists have sued the United States, President Obama, and several federal agencies, for the government's actions that have caused carbon pollution, climate destabilization, and violations of their constitutional rights.
On November 10, 2016, the court rejected the government and fossil fuel industry's arguments to throw the case out. Now, the youth co-plaintiffs and the non-profit Earth Guardians are headed to a trial that may be a turning point in United States history.
The future of the climate is in dire jeopardy under a Donald Trump Presidency. He's already hired a climate change denier to head up the transition of the Environmental Protection Agency. This would be troubling news even without this recent report from the Committee on Climate Change that outlines the environment's bleak future. The worst-case scenario could culminate in 118-degree heat waves and widespread flooding as early as 2080. That's undeniably terrible and it's only getting worse.
Coral reefs are dying, forest fires are devastating cities, and the Trump government seems largely uninterested in climate change issues. The evidence of a upcoming climate crisis is undeniable in the face of insane skepticism. So the onus is on us to start requesting a solution.
Until January 20, 2017, only President Obama has that power. In the last two months of his Presidency Obama could establish real climate protection for the future. Youth plaintiffs urge him to reject fossil fuel interests and come to the settlement table in the #YouthvGov lawsuit.
These teenage climate change warriors have launched a Care2 petition that has gathered 20,000+ signatures urging President Obama to end this case, meet with them, implement a climate recovery plan, and define his legacy.
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, youth plaintiff, Earth Guardians youth director, said, "We are defining the future we will pass on to generations to come. This is a pivotal moment in our nation's history. We need President Obama to stand with us."
For more about Xiuhtezcatl and the Earth Guardians check out the interview we ran with him in October.