Today’s youth build tomorrow’s future.
From courtroom wins that reshaped state constitutions to the first Gen Z member of Congress, young people aren’t waiting for permission to lead. Here’s where that fight actually stands right now.
Five cases, five very different outcomes
Youth-led constitutional climate cases don’t all end the same way — and pretending otherwise doesn’t serve anyone. Here’s where each one actually stands.
Held v. State of Montana
Sixteen youth plaintiffs won a trial court ruling that Montana’s Constitution protects a stable climate system. The Montana Supreme Court upheld it 6-1 in December 2024 — the first time a U.S. constitutional climate case fully succeeded. When the legislature passed new laws to work around the ruling, the youth filed Held v. Montana II in January 2026, which is now proceeding in district court.
Follow the case →
Navahine v. Hawai’i DOT
The first constitutional case challenging a state transportation system’s climate pollution, filed on behalf of 14 youth plaintiffs. Hawai’i settled in the youth’s favor in June 2024, committing the state’s transportation department to decarbonization targets rather than fighting it out at trial.
Read the settlement →Juliana v. United States
The decade-long “case of the century” ended when the Supreme Court declined to review the Ninth Circuit’s dismissal, closing the door on a trial after nearly ten years and three presidential administrations defending against it. It never got its day in court — but the legal framework it pioneered went on to help win Held and Navahine, and inspired more than 60 youth-led climate cases worldwide.
Read the case history →Genesis B. v. U.S. EPA
Eighteen California children sued the EPA over how it discounts the future value of children’s lives in climate cost-benefit analysis. Both the district court and, in April 2026, the Ninth Circuit found the plaintiffs lacked standing. It’s a real setback — though the same legal team and some of the same plaintiffs have continued the fight in a related case, Venner v. EPA.
Read the ruling →La Rose v. His Majesty the King
Fifteen young Canadians, representing seven provinces and one territory, are suing the federal government over its climate policy under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. After the Federal Court of Appeal unanimously revived the case in 2023, an eight-week trial is now confirmed to begin in Vancouver this October — just weeks away.
Follow the case →Young elected leaders already in office
Maxwell Frost
The first member of Generation Z elected to Congress; former organizer, musician, and community activist representing Orlando and Central Florida.
Lauren Underwood
First woman, first person of color, and first millennial to represent Illinois’ 14th District, sworn in January 2019.
Justin Jones
Organizing a new generation of leaders in Tennessee, uplifting the issues that matter to everyday Tennesseans against a Republican supermajority.
Nabeela Syed
Passed a law banning price gouging on generic drugs; now working on prescription drug affordability, fiscal health, gun safety, and reproductive rights.
Leaders We Deserve
Founded by David Hogg and Kevin Lata, two survivors of the 2018 Parkland shooting, Leaders We Deserve is a grassroots organization dedicated to electing young progressives to Congress and state legislatures nationwide.
The organization’s focus is squarely on candidate recruitment and support — helping young people who’ve never run for office build the campaigns to actually win one, with an eye toward building a political system that reflects the people it’s supposed to represent.
Tools built for first-time voters
You can register to vote before you turn 18 in every state except North Dakota, which doesn’t have voter registration at all. If you have a driver’s license, permit, or state ID, you already have what you need to start.
FutureVoter
A step-by-step tool that walks you through pre-registration or regular registration based on your state and age — built specifically for people registering for the first time.
Start registering →VoteAmerica Research Center
A public repository of academic studies on what actually moves voter turnout — from universal vote-by-mail to the real effectiveness of robocalls — used to guide mobilization efforts nationwide.
Browse the research →Count More
An explainer on why your vote carries more weight in competitive states — and which states those are for the 2026 midterms, based on current nonpartisan race ratings.
See which states count more →Our Children’s Trust
The legal organization behind Held, Navahine, Juliana, Genesis, and La Rose — representing youth plaintiffs in active constitutional climate cases across four countries.
See all active cases →Support today’s youth
Whether it’s a courtroom in Helena or a campaign office in a swing district, young people are already doing the work. Here’s where to put support behind it.