Can 'climate kids' take on governments and win?

Updated 10:51 PM ET, Tue July 24, 2018

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Children around the world are lobbying, marching and even suing their governments to take greater action against climate change. <br /><br />Over the weekend youth-led organization Zero Hour orchestrated three days of action, culminating with a youth climate march in Washington DC.

Photos: Climate kids around the world

Zero Hour – Children around the world are lobbying, marching and even suing their governments to take greater action against climate change.

Over the weekend youth-led organization Zero Hour orchestrated three days of action, culminating with a youth climate march in Washington DC.

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Youth activists have been at the forefront of a number of climate lawsuits against governments, including the 21 young plaintiffs <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/29/politics/sutter-climate-kids-march-washington/index.html" target="_blank">suing the US government</a> for failing to address the climate crisis.

Photos: Climate kids around the world

United States – Youth activists have been at the forefront of a number of climate lawsuits against governments, including the 21 young plaintiffs suing the US government for failing to address the climate crisis.

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This group of young plaintiffs claims the administration is failing to protect their right to a habitable planet. The US Government has <a href="http://blogs2.law.columbia.edu/climate-change-litigation/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/case-documents/2018/20180717_docket-18A65_application.pdf" target="_blank">filed a motion</a> with the Supreme Court to halt the trial, which is set for 29 October.

Photos: Climate kids around the world

United States – This group of young plaintiffs claims the administration is failing to protect their right to a habitable planet. The US Government has filed a motion with the Supreme Court to halt the trial, which is set for 29 October.

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Earlier this year 25 young activists in Colombia <a href="http://climatecasechart.com/non-us-case/future-generation-v-ministry-environment-others/" target="_blank">successfully sued</a> their government, arguing that its failure to reduce deforestation in the Amazon threatened their constitutional rights to a healthy environment, life, food and water.

Photos: Climate kids around the world

Colombia – Earlier this year 25 young activists in Colombia successfully sued their government, arguing that its failure to reduce deforestation in the Amazon threatened their constitutional rights to a healthy environment, life, food and water.

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In April, Colombia's Supreme Court <a href="http://blogs2.law.columbia.edu/climate-change-litigation/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/non-us-case-documents/2018/20180405_11001-22-03-000-2018-00319-00_decision-1.pdf" target="_blank">ordered</a> the government to take action to address deforestation in the Amazon.

Photos: Climate kids around the world

Colombia – In April, Colombia's Supreme Court ordered the government to take action to address deforestation in the Amazon.

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In Norway, Greenpeace and Nature and Youth, pictured here, filed a <a href="http://blogs2.law.columbia.edu/climate-change-litigation/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/non-us-case-documents/2016/20161018_16-166674TVI-OTIR06_petition-1.pdf" target="_blank">lawsuit</a> against the Norwegian government, saying that it violated the constitution by issuing licenses for deep-sea oil and gas drilling in the Arctic.

Photos: Climate kids around the world

Norway – In Norway, Greenpeace and Nature and Youth, pictured here, filed a lawsuit against the Norwegian government, saying that it violated the constitution by issuing licenses for deep-sea oil and gas drilling in the Arctic.

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However, the Oslo district court said the government's oil and gas plans were acceptable and <a href="http://blogs2.law.columbia.edu/climate-change-litigation/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/non-us-case-documents/2018/20180104_16-166674TVI-OTIR06_judgment-2.pdf" target="_blank">dismissed</a> the lawsuit in January this year. Greenpeace and Nature and Youth have since appealed the decision. <br /><br />Pictured here: Members of Norway's Nature and Youth in front of the Oslo district court.

Photos: Climate kids around the world

Norway – However, the Oslo district court said the government's oil and gas plans were acceptable and