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Case Law Database

The database will host pages with summaries of the most important and relevant youth climate cases.

Short case title Case year Decision making body Law applied More

Sacchi v. Argentina et. al.

2021 United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child Paris Agreement,United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/sacchi-v-argentina-et-al-.html

Billy v. Australia

2022 OHCHR - Human Rights Committee Communication under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/billy-v-australia.html

La Rose v. Her Majesty the Queen

2023 Federal Court of Appeal, Canada Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,Constitution of Canada /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/la-rose-v-her-majesty-the-queen.html

Children of Austria v. Austria

2023 Constitutional Court of Austria EU Charter of Fundamental Rights,Federal Climate Protection Act (Klimaschutzgesetz 2011), Austria,Federal Constitutional Act on Sustainability, Animal Protection, Comprehensive Environmental Protection, Water and Food Security as well as Research, Austria,The Federal Constitutional Act on the Rights of Children, Austria /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/children-of-austria-v-austria-.html

Juliana v. US

2024 Fifth Amendment (Due process, equal protection) to the United States,Ninth Amendment to the United States,Public Trust Doctrine /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/juliana-v-us.html

Mathur v. Ontario

2023 Superior Court of Appeal, Canada Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,Canadian Constitution Act,Paris Agreement,United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/mathur-v-ontario.html

Agostinho v. Portugal

2024 European Court of Human Rights (Grand Chamber) European Convention on Human Rights /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/agostinho-v-portugal-.html

Neubauer et al v Germany (Klimashutz)

2021 Federal Constitutional Court, Germany Constitution of Germany,EU Charter of Fundamental Rights,Federal Climate Protection Act, Germany /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/neubauer-et-al-v-germany-klimashutz.html

Held v. State of Montana

2023 Montana District Court Montana Constitution,Montana Environmental Policy Act,Montana State Energy Policy,Public Trust Doctrine /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/held-v-montana.html

Future Generations v. The Ministry of the Environment (Colombia)

2018 Supreme Court, Colombia Constitution of Colombia,United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/future-generations-v-the-ministry-of-the-environment-colombia-.html

Ali v. Federation of Pakistan

Lahore High Court, Punjab Constitution of Pakistan,Framework for Implementation of Climate Change Policy of 2013, Pakistan,National Climate Change Policy of 2012, Pakistan,Public Trust Doctrine,United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/ali-v-pakistan.html

Oposa v. Factoran

1993 Supreme Court, Manilla, Republic of the Philippines Civil code Art 19, 20 and 21, Philippines,Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines – section 16(2),Executive order no. 192 (1987) - section 4, Philippines,Presidential decree no 1151 (Philippine environmental Policy) section 3 /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/oposa-v-factoran.html

GroundWork Trust & Others v Minister of Environmental Affairs & Others (#DeadlyAir)

2022 High Court of South Africa Constitution of South Africa,National Environmental Management Act,Paris Agreement /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/groundwork-trust--others-v-minister-of-environmental-affairs--others-deadlya.html

Youth Verdict v. Waratah Coal

2022 Queensland Land Court Human Rights Act, Australia /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/youth-verdict-v-waratah-coal.html

African Climate Alliance et. al., v. Minister of Mineral Resources et al #CancelCoal

High Court of South Africa Constitution of South Africa,National Environmental Management Act,National Environmental Management Act, South Africa,Paris Agreement /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/african-climate-alliance-et-al-v-minister-of-mineral-resources-et-al-cancelcoal.html

Mbabazi and others v. The Attorney General and National Environmental Management Authority

High Court of Uganda Ugandan Constitution /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/mbabazi-and-others-v-the-attorney-general-and-national-environmental-management-.html

Various parties obo minors v. Anglo-American South Africa Limited & Others (Children of Kabwe)

2023 High Court of South Africa Constitution of South Africa,South African Children’s Act,Zambian Law /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/various-parties-obo-minors-v-anglo-american-south-africa-limited--others.html

Navahine F. v. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation

2024 The Circuit Court of the First Circuit State of Hawai'i Hawai'i Climate Change Laws,Hawai'i Constitution,Hawai'i Endangered Species Statute /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/navahine-f-v-hawaii-department-of-transportation.html

Minister for the Environment v. Sharma

2022 Federal Court of Australia (Full Court) Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, Australia,Federal Climate Protection Act (Klimaschutzgesetz 2011), Austria,Federal Court of Australia Act 1976, Australia /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/minister-for-the-environment-v-sharma.html

Jóvenes v. Gobierno de México (Youth v Mexico)

2023 District Court in Administrative Matters, Mexico Constitution of Mexico,General Law on Climate Change, Mexico /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/jovenes-v-gobierno-de-mexico-youth-v-mexico.html

Layla H. v. Commonwealth of Virginia

2024 Virginia Appellate Court Public Trust Doctrine,Virginia Constitution,Virginia Gas & Oil Act /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/layla-h-v-commonwealth.html

Natalie R. v. State (Utah)

2022 Utah Supreme Court Utah State Constitution /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/natalie-r-v-state-utah.html

Indonesian Youths & others v. Indonesia

OHCHR - Human Rights Committee United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/indonesian-youths--others-v-indonesia.html

Woodpecker et. al., v. South Korea

2024 South Korean Constitutional Court Constitution of South Korea,Enforcement Decree of the Carbon Neutrality Act, South Korea,Paris Agreement /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/woodpecker-et-al-v-south-korea.html

Environmental Justice Australia (EJA) v. Australia

UN Special Rapporteurs (Environment; Indigenous Peoples; Persons with Disabilities) Convention on the Rights of the Child,International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,International Human Rights Law,Paris Agreement /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/environmental-justice-australia-eja-v-australia.html

Ridhima Pandey v. Union of India

2019 National Green Tribunal Principal Bench, New Delhi National Green Tribunal Act, India,Paris Agreement /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/ridhima-pandey-v-union-of-india-.html

NZ Students v. BP 

International Criminal Court Paris Agreement,Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Italy /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/nz-students-v-bp-.html

Petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Seeking to Redress Violations of the Rights of Children in Cité Soleil, Haiti

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights American Convention on Human Rights,San Salvador Protocol, Haiti /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/inter-american-commission-on-human-rights---haiti.html

PUSH Sweden, Nature and Youth Sweden and Others v. Government of Sweden

2023 Stockholm District Court Constitution of Sweden /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/push-sweden-nature-and-youth-sweden-and-others-v-government-of-sweden-.html

Kain v. Department of Environmental Protection

2016 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Massachusetts Constitution,Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act,Public Trust Doctrine /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/kain-v-department-of-environmental-protection-.html

Children’s petition to the UN Secretary General to declare a climate emergency

UN Secretary General Convention on the Rights of the Child,Paris Agreement /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/childrens-petition-to-the-un-secretary-general-to-declare-a-climate-emergency-.html

Opinion of the National Human Rights Commission on the climate crisis and human rights

2023 National Human Rights Commission (South Korea) Constitution of Korea /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/opinion-of-the-national-human-rights-commission-on-the-climate-crisis-and-human-.html

Armando Carvalho and others v. Parliament

2021 Court of Justice of the European Union/European Court of Justice Paris Agreement /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/armando-carvalho-and-others-v-parliament---.html

Alvarez et. al., v. Peru

Superior Court of Lima Constitution of Peru /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/alvarez-et-al-v-peru-.html

Nuestros Derechos al Futuro y Medio Ambiente Sano et. al., v. Mexico 

2022 Electricity Industry Law (Mexico),Escazu Agreement,General Law of the Rights of Children and Adolescents (Mexico),General Law on Climate Change, Mexico,Paris Agreement,United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/nuestros-derechos-al-futuro-y-medio-ambiente-sano-et-al-v-mexico.html

ENvironnement JEUnesse v. Procureur General du Canada 

2021 Paris Agreement,Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms,United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change /en/youthclimatejustice/caselawdatabase/environnement-jeunesse-v-procureur-general-du-canada-.html
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