The landmark climate lawsuit where 21 young plaintiffs sued the U.S. government for violating their constitutional rights through fossil fuel support.
Constitutional Climate Case
Filed August 2015 by Our Children’s Trust, Juliana v. United States argued the federal government violated young people’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property by enabling climate change. The 21 plaintiffs (ages 8-19 when filed) sought court-ordered climate action plan. The legal theory: government has duty to protect atmosphere as public trust.
Legal Battles
The case survived initial dismissal attempts, with Judge Ann Aiken (2016) ruling youth had standing and constitutional claims were valid. The Obama and Trump administrations both fought to dismiss. In 2020, the Ninth Circuit dismissed for lack of jurisdiction—courts couldn’t order executive climate policy. The legal pathway closed, but the case raised climate litigation globally.
Global Ripple Effect
Juliana inspired 1,000+ climate lawsuits worldwide. Montana youth won constitutional climate case (2023). European courts ruled governments must meet climate targets. While Juliana failed in U.S. courts, it pioneered rights-based climate litigation and proved young people could force governments to defend inaction in public courtrooms.
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