Dear Friends,

More than 6 years in, Juliana v U.S. is still the most consequential climate case on the dockets!

Attorneys from 17 “red” states (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia) are so worried that Juliana is going to upset the monied status quo of the fossil fuel industry that they have just announced their intention to join forces, fight against children’s constitutional rights to a safe climate, and obstruct any settlement that might be reached with the Biden administration. You can read the Press Release here.

For years, huge entrenched interests have been trying, unsuccessfully, to beat down Juliana v. U.S.  But Juliana is as poised for success as ever. Just look at the ground-breaking history of the 21 youth plaintiffs’ continued perseverance against the most formidable of opponents:

For more than 6 years:

The U.S. federal government has tried every trick in the book to fight these children and keep historical government wrongdoing and climate science evidence from coming to light in open court, but:

• The youth have persevered, winning nearly every defense brought against them, and U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken has now ordered the federal government to enter into settlement negotiations later this month, and will thereafter decide how the youth’s case will proceed in her court.

4 years ago

Nearly all of the fossil fuel industry intervened in Juliana v. U.S. through their trade associations to fight these children and keep climate science evidence from coming to light in open court, but:

• The youth persevered, the fossil fuel industry gave up their intervention and left the case, and the youth’s case continued to move forward.

And just yesterday

The attorneys general of 17 “red” states decided to use their concentrated and well-funded political power to intervene in the case, protect the fossil fuel industry’s monied interests, and obstruct these young people’s efforts to protect their health, their safety, and their future by settlement or finally a trial and judgment in their case. By seeking to stop Juliana, these state governments only harm the children of their own states, which are also ravaged by the climate crisis. However,
     

• We are optimistic the youth will persevere again, and their case will continue its progress toward trial in open court where all the truths will finally be heard or to a meaningful settlement of their claims.

All of the defendants and intervenors over the last 6 years (the federal government, the fossil fuel industry and now these ten red 17 state AGs) know that Juliana v. U.S. will lead to a safe energy system grounded in renewable energy and based on scientific prescriptions for a safe climate. But that safe energy system will require transformation of the status quo fossil fuel based system in which all of these defendants and intervenors are so politically over-invested.

These government and corporate interests continue to leverage their clout and money as hard and long as they can to keep evidence of climate science out of court, to deny the equal rights of children, and to stop Juliana v. U.S., despite the fact that the case is so clearly:

• Grounded in science,
• Brought by kids to save their futures,
• Cemented in fundamental constitutional rights,
• Able to reveal hard evidence of the egregious actions of our governments that have caused the climate crisis.

Help us stop these politically motivated state politicians and their effort alongside the federal government defendants to decimate human rights and further delay the justice they know is imminent in Juliana v. U.S. These state attorneys general are not acting in the bests interests of their states’ children, public safety, health, or economy and jobs of our future. One of our very generous donors has agreed to double your donation to help us prevail against these formidable political and fossil fuel interests, so please double your impact and make a donation today.

On behalf of all children and future generations, we thank you for your continuing support as our progress continues, despite the fears and foils of the government defendants and intervenors. We are privileged to stand with you on the right side of history!

The Team at Our Children’s Trust