One of the inequities in the way that climate change is being addressed (or not) is that the people who are making the choices are, by-&-large, older. Youth, on the other hand, has a bigger stake in a future impacted by climate change.
Tia Hatton
Credit: Green & Grey
Someone who appears to be acting on this inequity is Tia Hatton, who has been described as, “a global citizen of America who's suing Trump over climate change.” More precisely, she's one of 21 people aged 9-20, who are suing the federal government for violating the constitutional rights of future generations by failing to regulate the environment. Not without success – in 2015, they filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration,1 claiming that the United States government had failed to take sufficient action on climate change, & that this failure was unconstitutional. In November 2016, US District Judge Ann Aiken wrote in a judgement, “Exercising my ‘reasoned judgment,’ I have no doubt that the right to a climate system capable of sustaining human life is fundamental to a free & ordered society.”2
Big Think – “Trump May Face Lawsuit from America's Children over Climate Change”
http://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/kids-are-taking-the-government-to-court-over-climate-change
Global Citizen – “Meet Tia Hatton, a Global Citizen of America Who's Suing Trump Over Climate Change”
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/global-citizen-of-america-tia-hatton/
Pacific Standard – “Can a Surprise Lawsuit in Oregon Save American Climate Policy?”
https://psmag.com/can-a-surprise-lawsuit-in-oregon-save-american-climate-policy-2339f386b13f#.qu4ugtio8
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1 Pacific Standard: “Can a Surprise Lawsuit in Oregon Save American Climate Policy?”, https://psmag.com/can-a-surprise-lawsuit-in-oregon-save-american-climate-policy-2339f386b13f#.qu4ugtio8
2 Global Citizen: “Meet Tia Hatton, a Global Citizen of America Who's Suing Trump Over Climate Change”, https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/global-citizen-of-america-tia-hatton/ / Tia Hatton Global Citizen of America suing Trump over climate change environmentalists called on the world abandon fossil fuels for decades emissions keep rising climate change gets worse each year Our Children's Trust lack of meaningful action those in power emboldened them try new tactics historic Juliana et Al. V United States lawsuit August 2015 case waged 21 young people aged 9-20 suing USA federal government violating constitutional rights future generations failing to regulate the environment 2016 appeals court ruled in their favor legal system monumental legal battle US District Judge Ann Aiken wrote exercising my reasoned judgment no doubt climate system capable sustaining human life fundamental free and ordered society Tia Hatton one 21 plaintiffs lawsuit part broader group youth advocates Earth Guardians lawsuit Tia Hatton activism uphill battle environmental advocacy Bend Oregon developed abiding passion for nature studying environmental international studies University of Oregon /
