Indigenous youth are leading the charge in climate lawsuits.
Across the globe, Indigenous youth are taking governments and companies to court, fighting for the future of their land and culture against the devastating impacts of climate change.
Anita Hofschneider reports for Grist.
In short:
- The Lāhainā wildfire in 2023, fueled by climate change and colonialism, destroyed Kaliko's home, pushing her to join a successful lawsuit to decarbonize Hawaii's transportation system.
- Indigenous youth globally are increasingly leading climate lawsuits, challenging governments and corporations to protect their lands and traditions.
- These legal battles, while often difficult, represent a powerful way for young people to transform grief and anger into action.
Key quote:
"This feeling of loss and grief of experiencing life with climate change — it impacts so many of our traditional ways."
— Beze Gray, Aamjiwnaang First Nation
Why this matters:
For indigenous people climate change is about more than rising sea levels or shrinking ice caps—it's about the loss of ancestral lands, the disruption of ecosystems they've relied on for generations, and the deep cultural connections that are being severed. Read more: Youth activism alone cannot save us: A case for intergenerational environmental coalitions.
