Latest news with #youthactivism
E&E News
3 days ago
- Health
- E&E News
Meet the youth challenging Trump on climate
Eva Lighthiser, 19, lives in Livingston, Montana, and is accustomed to milelong coal trains rumbling through town and blowing coal dust across the city. In 2023, she was a plaintiff in a youth-led lawsuit that sought to force her state to tackle climate change. Now, she's the lead challenger in Lighthiser v. Trump, a new climate lawsuit that accuses President Donald Trump of violating the Constitution by issuing a trio of executive orders that fast track fossil fuel development. 'Every place is going to be affected by this administration and it's very concerning to see what that will look like moving forward,' Lighthiser said in an interview. Advertisement The case, filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, argues that Trump's executive orders will worsen climate change and increase health dangers by declaring a 'national energy emergency' and directing the government to 'unleash American energy.'
New York Times
6 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
Youth Climate Activists Sue Trump Administration Over Executive Orders
Young people who sued state governments over climate change have begun a legal challenge aimed at President Trump's spate of executive orders on climate and the environment. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in Montana, argues that three of the executive orders are unconstitutional and would cripple the clean energy industry, suppress climate science and worsen global warming. The 22 plaintiffs, ranging in age from seven to 25 years old, are mostly from Montana, as well as Hawaii, Oregon, and other states, and are represented by the nonprofit legal group Our Children's Trust. That group has notched two important legal victories in recent years, winning cases against the state of Montana and the Hawaii Department of Transportation. 'Trump's fossil fuel orders are a death sentence for my generation,' said Eva Lighthiser, 19, the named plaintiff. 'I'm not suing because I want to. I'm suing because I have to. My health, my future, and my right to speak the truth are all on the line.' The plaintiffs argue that they are already experiencing harms from a warming planet in the form of wildfires, drought and hurricanes, and that Mr. Trump's executive orders will make conditions even worse. They say the executive orders violate their Fifth Amendment rights to life and liberty by infringing on their health, safety and prospects for the future. Further, they argue that the orders constitute executive overreach, because the president cannot unilaterally override federal laws like the Clean Air Act. The executive orders in question include those declaring a 'National Energy Emergency,' directing agencies to 'Unleash American Energy,' and 'Reinvigorating America's Beautiful Clean Coal Industry.' The complaint points to immediate consequences from the executive orders, like exempting the Colstrip coal-fired power plant in Montana from pollution rules. The aging plant emits more harmful fine particulate matter pollution, or soot, than any other power plant in the nation, according to Environmental Protection Agency data. A Biden-era rule would have compelled the facility, the only coal plant in the country to lack modern pollution controls, to install new equipment, but it received an exemption from the Trump administration last month. Several of the plaintiffs live near the plant or a mine that provides it with coal, or along the facilities' transport routes, said Julia Olson, founder of Our Children's Trust. The suit names Mr. Trump and several cabinet secretaries and agencies, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum; Energy Secretary Chris Wright; and Lee Zeldin, the E.P.A. administrator. The Interior Department and the E.P.A. both declined to discuss pending litigation. The Energy Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The complaint also takes aim at the Trump administration's cuts to federal climate research projects like the National Climate Assessment, which is the government's flagship report on how global warming is affecting the country. The report is required by Congress but last month the administration dismissed hundreds of scientists and experts who had been working on the latest version. 'In order for them to protect their rights, they need science,' Ms. Olson said of the young people. One of the plaintiffs is Rikki Held, 24. She was also the named plaintiff in the Montana case, in which the Montana Supreme Court agreed that the state's energy policies had violated Montanans' constitutional right to a clean environment. A daughter of a ranching family in the town of Broadus in southeastern Montana, Ms. Held studied environmental science and is now teaching high school students in Kenya. Ms. Held said her science career had been inspired by the U.S. Geological Survey researchers who would visit her family's land to study the Powder River. That agency is facing significant reductions under the Trump administration's proposed budget. In an interview from Kenya, Ms. Held said that her family had endured numerous effects of a warming planet, including increased wildfires. That effects livestock, the economy and the food systems that she and her neighbors rely on, she said. 'With all the wildfires, there's smoke in the air that affects health,' she said. 'Especially for ranchers, you don't have an option to stay inside. You have to go out and work take care of your livestock. I've been out fencing in 110 degree days, which is a record-breaking temperature from my area. In 2021, we had two or three of those days, and you just have to be out in the heat and keep working, because you don't have another choice.' The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the orders unconstitutional, block their implementation and protect the rights of youth as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and their respective state constitutions. Our Children's Trust was joined in filing the suit by Gregory Law Group of California, McGarvey Law of Montana and Public Justice, a public interest law firm in Washington. Another case by Our Children's Trust filed in 2015, Juliana v. United States, was described as a legal landmark, but was dismissed by a federal appellate court. In March, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal. That suit argued that the federal government had violated the constitutional rights of the plaintiffs with policies that encouraged the use of fossil fuels over many decades. In dismissing the case, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that courts were not the right venue to address climate change. Our Children's Trust said the new case was different because it is focused on specific executive orders and their implementation in recent months.
Zawya
17-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
‘Climate anxiety placing immense burden on youth', hears University of Birmingham Dubai panel
Dubai-UAE: Mental health experts and youth representatives are calling for more to be done to address the growing – yet largely overlooked – issue of climate anxiety facing the region's youth. According to the World Economic Forum, 66 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 in the Middle East and North Africa are deeply concerned about the long-term implications of climate change. A high-level panel hosted by the University of Birmingham Dubai and joined by school students heard that the uncertainty around climate change is being compounded in the digital age, where news runs 24/7 and doomscrolling is rife enough to have an official name. Moderating the panel, Dr Rasha Bayoumi, Head of Research, University of Birmingham Dubai, said: 'Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is already transforming our environments, economies, and our mental health. As a civic university and part of the UAE Universities Climate Network, we are aiming to connect youth with mental health advocates and policymakers to drive conversations, inform new research, and equip young people with the tools they need. This isn't just about making young voices heard, it's about helping youth to understand that the power to shape their future is in their hands.' The panel included Maricor Muzones, UAE Climate Adaptation Lead, Global Green Growth Institute; Ahmed Al Ghardaqa, President, Arab Youth Council for Climate Change; Farah Dahabi, Director of Crisis and Trauma Service, The Lighthouse Arabia; and Tejal Gupta, Student, University of Birmingham Dubai. 'Climate anxiety begins when we relinquish control — when we no longer see ourselves as actors or contributors to meaningful action. But we refuse to be sidelined. We are reclaiming the narrative, recognizing that climate change doesn't affect everyone equally, and that vulnerability must be central to any policy response. Education becomes our greatest tool — not just to inform, but to empower, to operationalize solutions, and to build synergy across levels of action. We are not at a dead end. We are consolidating efforts, reasserting agency, and stepping into our role as architects of a just, inclusive climate future,' said Maricor Muzones, UAE Climate Adaptation Lead, Global Green Growth Institute. Ahmed Al Ghardaqa, President, Arab Youth Council for Climate Change said: 'Climate anxiety is not just a psychological experience – it is an emotional reaction to systemic failures. We are living through disasters in real-time – unfiltered pain and loss. Across the region, youth are stepping into diplomacy, shaping climate negotiations, and building movements grounded in justice and urgency. Social media plays a dual role; it can heighten anxiety, but is also a powerful tool for advocacy: it amplifies our voices, connects us across borders, and drives collective action.' On her part, Farah Dahabi, Director of Crisis and Trauma Service, The Lighthouse Arabia said: "There is no perfect climate advocate – only a present one. Climate anxiety is not something we fix or escape, but something we learn to move with. It's a natural emotional response to an overwhelming crisis, and acknowledging that – without shame – is the first step to building resilience. When we give ourselves permission to rest and reset, we create space not just for healing, but for more authentic, sustainable engagement.' Representing the University of Birmingham Dubai on the panel, Tejal Gupta, said: 'It's a paradox. You feel terrible, forget, get reminded, and feel helpless again. It's traumatic to be told the world is burning—and you can't do anything about it. As students, we are constantly reminded of the future we are inheriting, primarily shaped by climate uncertainty. But through platforms like this, we are also reminded of the power we hold to influence change. It was empowering to engage with experts and policymakers who are genuinely listening to and valuing youth perspectives. That kind of recognition turns anxiety into agency.' As well as the high-level panel discussion, the event featured a Youth Policy Lab exploring the link between climate change, social media, and mental health, while identifying pathways for youth empowerment. The Lab brought together students from Greenwood International School and Dubai English Speaking School for a dynamic exchange of ideas and solutions. The event concluded with a unified call to action, highlighting the critical need to integrate mental health considerations into climate policy frameworks. For more information or interviews, please contact Disha Dadlani on ddadlani@ University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham is ranked among the world's top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham and Dubai, including researchers and teachers and more than 8,000 international students from more than 150 countries.
Malay Mail
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Hajiji: Sabah to draft Youth Development Enactment to strengthen youth organisations and expand recognition of activism
KOTA KINABALU, May 17 — The Sabah government will draft an enactment on Sabah Youth Development to provide a legal framework for strengthening the management of youth organisations in the state, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. He said the proposed enactment would create a more structured and organised platform for youth development while expanding the recognition of youth activism and the contributions of the organisations involved. 'The State Ministry of Youth and Sports (KKBS) together with the Sabah Youth Council (MBS) have been entrusted with the responsibility to study this matter, including addressing the issue of youth transition policy,' he said in a statement after officiating the Sabah National Youth Day celebration here today. Hajiji added that the state government consistently prioritises the aspirations of its youth, with continuous efforts to equip them with essential knowledge and skills. 'This is to ensure that when the time comes for the younger generation to assume leadership roles, they will be well-prepared and capable of leading both the state and the nation to greater heights,' he said. He said the state government is also actively strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as well as technical training programmes across Sabah. 'Last year alone, over 179 courses in the fields of science, technology, innovation, and languages were conducted, attracting more than 35,000 participants. 'We are also encouraging youth to explore opportunities in Sabah's expanding oil and gas industry to enhance their skills and meet the growing demands of the energy sector,' he added. Meanwhile, Hajiji announced that the state government has introduced various educational assistance initiatives, including the latest programmes — the Domestic Higher Education Student Contribution (SENTOSA) and the One-Off School Activity Contribution (SUKSES). He said these initiatives are part of 13 educational programmes offered by the state government for students, schools, Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBG), and the Sabah Students' Association, both within and outside the state, involving a total allocation of RM75.5 million. — Bernama
