Climate Change Impact on Children: Cases and Challenge

Children suffering from climate change experience malnutrition and die from starvation. The psychological effects on children are immeasurable from dislocation and separation and death of their parents. Children endure agony from flooding, drought, hurricanes and earthquakes. Education is impossible.

This webinar will highlight these effects on children. Although the bulk of climate lawsuits have been filed in the U.S., most have been thrown out of court bogged down in procedural arguments. This year however, Held v. Montana, the only constitutional climate litigation in the U.S. to go on trial, brought on behalf of children between the ages of five and 21, was heard in state judicial district court in the capital Helena in June 2023. The judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs on August 14 in this landmark decision and decided that the Montana Environmental Policy Act was unconstitutional and that Montana has a constitutional right to a healthful environment includes climate. Attorneys from Our Children Trust, representing youth plaintiffs, will be on the panel. Our Children Trust is the only non-profit law firm dedicated to securing youth rights to a healthy atmosphere and safe climate. It is active in supporting climate actions domestically and globally.

The content of this program does not meet requirements for continuing legal education (CLE) accreditation. You will not receive CLE credit for participating.