Can 'climate kids' take on governments and win?

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

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

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.

Hide Caption

1 of 13

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.

Hide Caption

2 of 13

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.

Hide Caption

3 of 13

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.

Hide Caption

4 of 13

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.

Hide Caption

5 of 13

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.

Hide Caption

6 of 13