Purpose
- Investigates the causes of economic imbalances.
- Explores and develops market-based solutions.
Summary
Our Atmospheric Trust Campaign is built on the belief that everyone has a fundamental right to a healthy atmosphere and a stable climate. Through legal action and public education, we aim to establish a constitutional standard for climate stability, holding governments accountable to reduce CO2 below 350 ppm by 2100 – a threshold aligned with the scientific threshold for a safe climate within Earth’s planetary boundaries. Rooted in science and justice, our mission is to protect current and future generations from the devastating impacts of climate destabilization.
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In Lighthiser v. Trump, 22 young plaintiffs made history as the first to give live testimony in federal court in a youth-led constitutional climate case—standing alongside world-renowned experts before a judge in Missoula, Montana to defend their future.
Description
Our Children's Trust represents young people in court to enforce their constitutional rights, challenging government actions that threaten their future. In 2025, we championed over 210 children across 14 states and 4 countries. Their cases will shape the lives of 75 million U.S. children, 2 billion worldwide, and generations to come.
Because of our litigation campaign, there are now two states—Montana and Hawai'i—that have enshrined the right to a safe climate in bedrock constitutional law. Our cases have inspired hundreds of rights-based climate cases among the 2,000+ cases in the U.S. and 1,100+ cases globally.
For fifteen years, we've built our work on three pillars: youth voices leading the way in courtrooms and beyond, rights-based legal action holding governments accountable, and the best climate science anchoring every case. Through strategic litigation, powerful partnerships, public engagement, and youth leadership development, we're transforming how governments understand their constitutional obligation to protect children's futures.
LANDMARK VICTORIES
MONTANA. After the Montana Supreme Court's landmark 6-1 decision in 2024 affirming youth have a constitutional right to a stable climate system in Held v. State of Montana, we spent 2025 ensuring that right has teeth. Montana emits about 166 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. Montana must now consider these emissions for all projects going forward. We're filing an enforcement lawsuit to strike down laws that block agencies from regulating greenhouse gas pollution. This case directly addresses the economic imbalance where Montana's fossil fuel extraction imposes massive health and climate costs on children while those costs remain unpriced.
HAWAI'I. Our historic 2024 Navahine v. Hawai'i Department of Transportation (HDOT) settlement requires Hawai'i to reach zero emissions for marine, road, and interisland air transportation by 2045—a market-based transformation correcting decades of economic imbalance. Hawaiian transportation emissions stood at 10.68 million metric tons in 2019. From 2025 to 2045, Hawai'i planned to emit 190 million metric tons from transportation alone. We changed that. In 2025, we moved from litigation to implementation. We advised HDOT on its 200-page emissions reduction plan and helped establish the Youth Transportation Council, where 20 young people now advise the state. In November, HDOT announced its Priority Multimodal Network: 113 projects across all islands with $360 million invested. In addition to helping stabilize the climate, this protects Hawaiian coral reefs valued at $33 billion annually.
STATE LITIGATION STRATEGY
Our state litigation addresses profound injustices and imbalances by targeting jurisdictions with severe climate impacts and significant emissions reduction potential. We're challenging transportation systems, fossil fuel extraction, and utility commissions that rubber-stamp polluting projects—regulatory failures creating massive market distortions. Our cases establish that children have enforceable rights to a healthy future, forcing governments to develop market-based solutions that account for climate damages.
ALASKA. Eight young Alaskans are fighting to stop the Alaska Liquified Natural Gas Project—a megaproject that would triple state emissions. Alaska's annual greenhouse gas emissions of 33.7 million tons are equal to those of countries 7 to 12 times larger. The Alaska LNG pipeline would emit 2.3 to 3.9 billion metric tons over 30 years—equal to 67 to 115 years of Alaska's current annual emissions. This case investigates how government subsidies create economic imbalances favoring fossil fuel expansion over children's health, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation. Oral arguments before the Alaska Supreme Court, where we have strong precedent, are expected in early 2026.
FLORIDA. Six Miami-Dade youth are challenging Florida's systemic approval of fossil fuel energy plans—a clear market failure where climate and health costs remain unpriced. Between 2006 and 2023, Florida's electricity from fossil gas increased from 50.4% to 75.4%, while only 6.5% comes from solar. From 1999 through 2023, Florida's electricity sector emitted 2.76 billion tons—equal to the emissions of all EU or Middle Eastern countries—demonstrating massive unpriced economic externalities. A hearing is scheduled for December 9 on the Public Service Commission's motion to dismiss.
UTAH. In March 2025, the Utah Supreme Court became the first high court to explore whether children have a climate-related right to life. Seven young plaintiffs challenged the state's mandate to maximize fossil fuel development—a policy prioritizing extraction revenues while externalizing health and climate costs onto children. Utah holds 181 billion tons of CO2 in reserves—if extracted, that would be 4.8 times the annual global emissions of all countries combined. The Court ruled Utah can deny fossil fuel projects based on climate concerns. Yet since then, the state has issued over 300 new permits. We've just filed a new lawsuit targeting these permits, which allow for dangerous air pollution without assessing health and climate impacts.
WISCONSIN. In August 2025, 15 young Wisconsinites filed suit against state laws banning regulators from considering climate impacts when approving power plants—and capping renewables at 10%, though clean energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels. This investigates economic imbalance where constrained markets prevent efficient, market-based solutions from displacing costly fossil fuels. Wisconsin emitted 86.2 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2023—greater than countries two to three times larger. Victory could unlock $68 billion in health savings and stop the $14 billion flowing out of state annually for fossil fuels.
FEDERAL CASES
LIGHTHISER V. TRUMP. In May 2025, we filed suit for 22 young Americans challenging three executive orders that will increase U.S. emissions by 510 million tons annually by 2035. The orders will increase annual energy bills by $230 per year while directly harming the health of millions of Americans, including killing an estimated 195,857 people over 25 years—equal to Knoxville, TN or Fort Lauderdale, FL. These massive unpriced health and economic costs demonstrate how the orders deepen economic imbalances, favoring carbon-intensive industries over children's futures.
In September, five youth plaintiffs testified in federal court—the first live testimony ever in a constitutional climate case led by young people. World-class experts testified alongside them. Nobel Prize winner Dr. Steve Running on climate science shared how every ton of pollution matters. Pediatrician Dr. Lori Byron on the toll fossil fuels take on children's bodies. Executive Director of Renewable Northwest Nicole Hughes shared how since January 20th, 35 renewable energy projects have been canceled, resulting in 16,589 jobs lost and over $22 billion in investment losses. Former White House advisor John Podesta, who looked at the court and said: "These kids are being harmed by these executive orders. This court can do something about that." The federal government called zero witnesses.
Judge Christensen acknowledged the evidence: climate change is harming these youth, the orders are making it worse, and we're facing a "children's health emergency." Nineteen states and Guam intervened on behalf of Trump—the only case out of the over 450 cases against the President since January in which we’ve seen this type of mobilization. Judge Christensen “reluctantly” dismissed the case and invited the Ninth Circuit to return the case so he could decide it on its merits. We're in the process of appealing to the Ninth Circuit, where this testimony will shape climate law for generations.
GENESIS V. EPA. Eighteen California children are suing the EPA for allowing life-threatening pollution—investigating how federal policies systematically undervalue children's lives, creating massive economic imbalances. Since 1970, the EPA has allowed 277.5 billion tons of fossil CO2—causing 10% of all warming to date. We filed our Ninth Circuit appeal in July, supported by three amicus briefs from leading scholars, economists, and medical experts.
JULIANA V. UNITED STATES. For nearly a decade, 21 young Americans fought to hold the U.S. government accountable for creating the national fossil fuel energy system—the root cause of the most profound economic imbalance of our time. The U.S. has the largest historical fossil emissions (about 24%), bearing the most responsibility for 1.3 degrees Celsius of global warming. The Supreme Court declined review in March 2025, but Juliana's impact extends far beyond one case, inspiring hundreds of lawsuits worldwide and helping courts understand how government-enabled fossil fuel systems create massive market failures.
GLOBAL STRATEGY
LA ROSE V. HIS MAJESTY THE KING. Fifteen youth plaintiffs from seven provinces and two territories—including Indigenous youth—proceed to an eight-week trial beginning October 26, 2026. This will be a landmark climate case against the Canadian federal government. Canada is the 4th largest producer of oil and 5th largest producer of gas in the world. The plaintiffs seek a court order forcing the government to implement a real Climate Recovery Plan that aligns with the best available climate science. A favorable ruling would establish a constitutional right to a safe climate in Canada, requiring government to develop market-based solutions that account for climate damages, impacting 11.1 million Canadian youth under 25.
JULIANA GOES GLOBAL. In September 2025, 15 former Juliana plaintiffs filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, accusing the U.S. government of 50+ years of deliberate harm through fossil fuel dependence—a systemic failure to account for the true costs of carbon-intensive energy systems. This marks the first climate rights petition after the Inter-American Court declared the climate crisis a human rights emergency.
INTERNATIONAL COURTS. In July 2025, the International Court of Justice declared climate harm a violation of international law, affirming that the 1.5°C target is "unsafe" and demanding that nations halt activities that worsen the climate emergency—validating our 15 years of advocacy. We continue to intervene at the European Court of Human Rights in cases requiring states to set science-based targets and to develop market-based solutions that accurately price climate damages.
ALLIANCE BUILDING
We've built a collaborative network uniting academics, climate scientists, legal professionals, medical experts, researchers, economists, and youth advocates. Our partners help document economic imbalances created by climate-destabilizing policies and develop market-based solutions. In 2025, staff and plaintiffs presented at over 57 events. We deepened partnerships with law clinics at Berkeley, Duke, Georgetown, and Harvard. We received nearly $3 million in pro bono support, with 26 attorneys contributing counsel, 22 experts providing testimony and scientific advice, and 6 amicus briefs filed.
ADVANCING SCIENCE. We continue conversations with advocates, lawyers, academics, policymakers, and scientists to advance rights-based strategic climate litigation and advocate for science-based climate rights before international tribunals. Science reveals both the causes of economic imbalances—the unpriced costs of fossil fuel dependence—and pathways to market-based solutions through clean energy transitions.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Our work appeared in 276+ stories in 9 languages, including The New York Times, Reuters, Rolling Stone, and CBS News, leading to 3 million+ views online. We published 26+ blog posts and reached 106,000+ unique website visitors. Social media grew by 13,804 followers (600% increase) with 2 million+ impressions. We're developing statewide curriculum in Hawai'i reaching over 165,000 children and exploring scalable, civics-based resources on constitutional climate rights for national expansion.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP
Our youth plaintiffs are powerful movement leaders. Climate litigation gives young people decision-making power they're denied in traditional civic spaces. We amplify youth voices through comprehensive media training. In 2025, 27 plaintiffs were highlighted 34+ times through our platforms. Hawai'i's Youth Transportation Council launched with 20 young people actively shaping infrastructure decisions. Additionally, we provide trauma-informed support addressing climate anxiety and feelings of institutional betrayal, while equipping young people with life-long resiliency skills and a supportive network of peers. In 2025, we provided 192+ hours of support to our team, plaintiffs, and their families. In 2026, we will expand this model in collaboration with youth advisors and mental health experts.
IN SUMMARY
We are deeply grateful for the Alex C. Walker Foundation's longstanding partnership in advancing children's constitutional climate rights. When children's climate rights are secured, governments fulfill their obligation to protect all citizens, including those not yet born. Our success creates a tipping point, realigning government priorities, market forces, and social values toward climate stability as an immediate, enforceable right. By establishing constitutional standards grounded in science, we create the framework for market-based solutions that accurately price climate damages and enable the transition to a sustainable economy.
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Our Children's Trust youth plaintiffs bring their voices to the Capitol, advocating for their constitutional right to a stable climate.
Purpose
We are investigating and addressing the root causes of global economic imbalance, with a focus on climate. Currently, society fails to accurately price the damages caused by climate-destabilizing activities and products, ignoring both present and future harms. This creates significant economic distortions. We are exploring and advocating for market-based solutions that promote a sustainable economy, addressing issues like ecosystem services, climate change, energy security, and food production. Carbon-intensive industries and outdated government policies dominated by the fossil fuel industry continue to dominate, worsening environmental degradation. Our goal is to secure court orders requiring governments to correct these imbalances, and create a just, sustainable economy aligned with scientific mandates to stabilize the climate system and de-acidify oceans.
Scope
To address the economic imbalance driving the climate crisis, a federal-state strategy will shift the paradigm and end fossil fuel dominance. The US has contributed 25% of global GHG emissions. A federal court victory would impact 72 million youth; prevent 1,029,041MMT CO2 emissions, and save $2.2 trillion in health and energy costs by 2050. Annual savings come from reduced mortality and lower energy costs, shifting from fossil fuels to clean energy. A 25-state constitutional litigation strategy would impact 39 million youth; cut 719,379MMT CO2 (equivalent to 19 years of 2021 global industrial emissions) and save $1.24 trillion in health and energy costs by 2050. Our project aims to reach a national tipping point, with global court submissions affirming that law and science are the pillars of climate rights, obligations, and justice.
Information Dissemination
We disseminate information through digital platforms (websites, social media, newsletters, virtual briefings); traditional media; community engagement (public forums, partnerships); academic and professional channels (conferences, law journals, publications); storytelling (blogs, podcasts); and advocacy work (amicus briefs, toolkits).
DATA DRIVEN. We work with researchers and experts examining state emissions that can be stopped through halting future extraction and new fossil-fuel power plants plus emissions reduced by transition to clean energy. This data reveals causes of economic imbalances—where society fails to price climate damages—and demonstrates pathways to market-based solutions. For instance, in Montana, we intend to stop extraction of over 100 billion metric tons of fossil fuels, driving a paradigm shift to clean energy. In Utah, research shows transitions from fossil fuels will generate jobs, save lives, reduce annual emissions by millions of metric tons of CO2, and reduce energy, health and climate costs substantially—correcting economic imbalances created when these costs remain externalized.
ENGAGEMENT. In 2025, six amicus briefs were filed on our plaintiffs' behalf with several in progress, 22 experts provided pro bono testimony and scientific advice, and 26 attorneys joined as pro bono counsel. Staff and plaintiffs presented at over 57 events, delivering formal presentations, leading workshops, teaching classes, and engaging in collaborative conversations.
MEDIA. Our message resonated widely, securing over 276 pieces of earned media in 9+ languages, generating millions of impressions across national and international outlets. We published 26+ blog posts, amplifying youth leaders and their pursuit of climate justice and economic justice.
Amount Approved$50,000.00
on 5/31/2025
(Check sent: 6/6/2025)
