Newsletters
February Newsletter
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Hello and welcome to the February edition of our Youth Climate Justice Research Network newsletter!
This network, born from the Youth Climate Justice project at University College Cork, led by Prof. Aoife Daly and funded by the European Research Council (ERC), thrives thanks to your active participation and collaboration. This newsletter is prepared by Florencia Paz Landeira. For more about the project and our team, feel free to visit our website.
Next Online Research Forum
Our next online research forum will be on Thursday, February 27th at 2pm (UTC). Digno Montalván Zambrano will be presenting on Advances and Challenges of Intergenerational Justice in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Digno Montalván Zambrano is a postdoctoral researcher at the University Carlos III of Madrid and holds a PhD in Advanced Studies in Human Rights from the same university. Author of several publications on ecological law, indigenous peoples' rights and international systems for the protection of human rights. Member of several international networks and research projects related to ecological law.
Recordings of our previous research forum are available here.
Youth Climate Applications/Litigation
Genesis B. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency – Latest Update
On December 10, 2023, 18 children from across California sued the EPA (and later the Office of Management and Budget), alleging the government discounts the economic value of their lives when regulating climate pollution. They point to serious harm from wildfires, floods, and toxic air pollution, arguing this violates their fundamental rights to equal protection and life.
On February 11, 2025, Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald dismissed the case, preventing the plaintiffs from presenting evidence of their injuries. Our Children’s Trust states that, by ignoring their claims, the court essentially shielded the government’s climate policies from judicial scrutiny. Despite this setback, the children remain determined to hold the U.S. government accountable. Read Our Children’s Trust’s Press Release
Layla H. v. Commonwealth of Virginia – Latest Update
Filed on February 9, 2022, by 12 young Virginians, this lawsuit argues that Virginia’s continued reliance on fossil fuels violates the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights to life and liberty and breaches the state’s duty to protect public resources.
After the Court of Appeals dismissed the case on June 26, 2024, citing sovereign immunity and lack of standing, the plaintiffs appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court. On February 11, 2025, they presented oral arguments urging the Court to overturn the dismissal, highlighting key issues like standing and the public trust doctrine. A decision is expected soon. Read the Press Release
Events
The 5th World Congress on Justice with Children invites proposals from those interested in organizing a parallel session. Please submit a detailed summary outlining your objectives, session structure, and anticipated outcomes by March 1, 2025 (23:59 CET). For further information and to apply, visit the official Call for Parallel Sessions.
Climate Rights of Children in Europe: “Insights on Participation and Access to Justice from the J&E ENRICH Project”. Join this webinar on February 25 (10:00–12:00 AM CET) to explore the latest findings on children’s climate rights, including their participation and access to justice in Europe. Access the full programme and register here.
Publications
Article: “Impacts of climate change on children's rights to food and health in coastal communities in Ghana”, by Harrison Kwame Golo, Sulley Ibrahim, Bolanle T. Erinosho
Book: Perspectives on Children, Rights, and Vulnerability, edited by Trude Haugli and Mona Martnes. Highlights of this volume include:
- Chapter 10 “Children’s Access to Justice in Climate Matters: The Role of Vulnerability”, by Kirsten Sandberg.
Book Chapter: “Eroding Children’s Rights: An Analysis of the Utility of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to Climate Action in Africa”, by Elvis Fokala and Nimrod Muhumuza.
Book Chapter: “Resistance in International Human Rights Fora to Child Climate Political Activism”, by Sonja Grover.
Book Chapter: “It's Just the Persuading Bit”. Children, Performance and Climate Action, by Rachael Newberry.