From the coral reefs of Florida to the mountains of Montana, youth across the United States are taking bold action to defend their futures against the escalating climate crisis. These young plaintiffs are proving that democracy is not inherited—it is practiced, nurtured, and fiercely protected. Their stories illustrate a national movement where the voices of youth drive legal, cultural, and environmental change, asserting their constitutional rights while demanding accountability from governments at every level.
In Florida, Delaney, a plaintiff in Lighthiser v. Trump and Reynolds v. Florida Public Service Commission, has witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of climate change. Neighborhoods swept away by hurricanes, bleached coral reefs she grew up exploring, and extreme heat events underscore the reality she and her peers face daily. Last September, Delaney sat in federal court as five plaintiffs described heat stroke, hurricane evacuations, and smoke-induced pneumonia, demonstrating that executive orders and government inaction contribute to a “children’s health emergency.” The case now moves to the Ninth Circuit in what could become one of the most consequential constitutional climate cases in U.S. history.
“This is what democracy looks like,” Delaney emphasizes. “We are using our voice in the court, letting the judge know that we as youth have rights.” From protecting coastal Florida to defending Indigenous lands in the Yukon, young people are the heartbeat of democracy, refusing to accept broken systems and actively shaping the policies that will govern their future.
Across Utah, ten determined youth filed Roberts v. Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining, challenging their state’s issuance of over 300 fossil fuel permits that endanger their health, violate constitutional rights, and exacerbate climate threats. These plaintiffs are building on prior victories, including Natalie R. v. State of Utah, where the Utah Supreme Court clarified that meaningful legal relief requires targeting specific government actions. Today, these young activists are confronting permits that allow dangerous air pollution without evaluating full health and climate impacts, ignore safer alternatives like wind and solar energy, and endanger youth while claiming to meet energy demands that could be fulfilled more safely and affordably.
The stakes are immediate and severe. Utah youth already live in some of the nation’s poorest air quality zones and face threats from heat waves, wildfires, drought, and elevated health risks. They are experiencing asthma attacks, cognitive and neurological challenges, increased anxiety, and disruptions to school and outdoor life. By challenging these permits, they are asserting that young people are not just tomorrow’s leaders—they are democracy’s present heartbeat.
From Montana comes another powerful story of youth-led climate action. Jeff, now nearly twelve, began his journey as a plaintiff at age six during Held v. Montana, a landmark case that affirmed Montana youth have a constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment, including a stable climate system. Inspired by early conversations with his mother, environmental lawyer Laura, Jeff’s understanding of the law became a tool for action. “You can make a difference if you want to,” he says. “You should try—and you should keep believing in what you believe.”
This September, Jeff testified in Lighthiser v. Trump, scaling his advocacy from a state-level case to federal court. His mother reflects, “Adults bring experience and education, and kids bring passion and that sense of rightness. That combination is so powerful.” Laura has spent her career fighting for environmental justice, but her sons have shown her that hope and action can spring from the youngest voices.
In recognition of International Human Rights Day, thirteen courageous Montanans returned to the Montana Supreme Court in Held v. State of Montana II, challenging new laws deliberately designed to undermine the original ruling. State agencies continue to approve fossil fuel permits while blocking full consideration of greenhouse gas pollution, deepening the harms the Court previously recognized. This case is not just about laws—it is about ensuring constitutional rights are honored, and that the state protects young people from ongoing environmental harm. The youth plaintiffs demand enforcement of the Held ruling to secure health, land, water, and community protections for present and future generations.
Across the nation, from Florida to Utah, Montana to Alaska, youth-led climate advocacy is gaining momentum. Their efforts illustrate that democracy flourishes when young voices refuse to remain silent. These plaintiffs, supported by organizations like Sustainable Action Now’s Our Youth and Our Children’s Trust, rely on legal expertise, trauma-informed support, and strategic advocacy to amplify their voices in courtrooms and beyond.
These young people are not waiting for permission—they are demonstrating that meaningful change comes when citizens of all ages take action. They are challenging fossil fuel development, holding governments accountable, and asserting constitutional protections for clean air, water, and a stable climate. Their courage is a call to action for all of us: to stand with youth, defend democracy, and ensure that the rights of today’s children are not erased by the inaction of adults.
Your support matters. By empowering young advocates through legal representation, research, and advocacy, we can amplify their impact and protect the health and futures of communities across the country. From Florida’s coastal resilience to Montana’s constitutional victories, Utah’s air quality battles, and Indigenous land protections in the Yukon, youth are proving that standing up for what’s right is not just the responsibility of adults—it is the defining work of this generation.
The climate crisis may be vast, but so too is the determination of young people defending their rights, their communities, and their futures. Join them. Stand with them. Because when youth lead, democracy thrives—and the world becomes a safer, healthier place for everyone.
