Newsletters
July Newsletter
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Hello and welcome to the Julye edition of our Youth Climate Justice Research Network newsletter!
This network is supported by the Youth Climate Justice project at University College Cork. The project is led by Prof. Aoife Daly and funded by the European Research Council (ERC). For more about the project and our team, feel free to visit our website. You can also watch the recordings of our online research forums here!
This newsletter is prepared by YCJ Postdoctoral Researcher Florencia Paz Landeira.
PROJECT NEWS
Research cited before the African Court. Research from the Youth Climate Justice project has been cited in several amici submissions in the request for an advisory opinion before the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights on the human rights obligations of African states in the climate crisis. An article by our PI Prof. Aoife Daly is cited in the original request; two of our articles — one by PhD researcher Liesl Muller and one co-authored by Liesl and Aoife — feature in the Georgetown Law submission; and the project's work on postpaternalism is cited in the amicus brief by UCC Environmental and Natural Resources Law Master's students. A powerful reminder that children and young people belong at the centre of climate justice — as rights-holders and rights-makers, not passive subjects of protection. Cited works: Intergenerational rights are children's rights: Upholding the right to a healthy environment through the UNCRC — Aoife Daly · Children at the lekgotla: African child-led litigation for remedies in the climate crisis — Liesl Muller · Child/Youth Climate Litigation: Tracking Children's Rights and Children's Impact — Aoife Daly & Liesl Muller
Liesl Muller at the Climate Litigation School 2026: PhD researcher Liesl Muller took part in the inaugural Climate Litigation School, held in July at the University of Pretoria, coordinated by Natural Justice, the Centre for Environmental Rights and UP's Centre for Environmental Justice in Africa, bringing together 40 lawyers, students, researchers and climate justice practitioners to build litigation strategies grounded in climate science, rights-based frameworks and Indigenous and traditional knowledge. Liesl brought children's rights knowledge to the School.
Fieldwork: what's next. With Nepal, our Young Advisory Team research and Canada now complete, we're looking ahead to the final Participation workshops in Argentina and Ireland across 2026–27. Following the project's workshop methodology, participants move through five sessions: discussing human rights and the environment, learning arts-based methods, taking a field trip to spark ideas, reflecting on the art they produce, and presenting it in a public exhibition where community leaders join them for intergenerational dialogue. A selection of the work created so far is on our Artwork page. Watch this space!
YOUTH CLIMATE LITIGATION/APLICATION
Aurora v. Sweden (Aurora Case II) — The Swedish state filed its defence before the Stockholm District Court, contesting the youth-led association's claim while choosing not to dispute its standing to bring it — leaving the court to rule for the first time on whether Sweden's climate efforts are adequate to protect human rights. The state argues it has remained within its margin of appreciation under KlimaSeniorinnen, and that nothing in that judgment requires it to calculate its "fair share" of global emissions reductions.
OPEN CALLS AND EVENTS
Online Celebration of Indigenous Children's Voices & Rights: Join an online celebration of Indigenous children's voices and rights on Saturday 25 July, 1:00–2:30 PM. Register on Eventbrite.
Clearing the Air: A theatre project born out of the youth-led coal, air pollution and climate court cases in South Africa, bringing together theatre arts, air quality monitoring and health literacy. Using real stories, data insights and health education to breathe life into South Africa's Air Quality Priority Areas. Follow the project on Facebook.
Rethinking Eco-anxiety, Emotion and Care — call for research participants: A new study is seeking participants to share their understandings and experiences of climate anxiety and eco-emotion — from care and hope to exhaustion and distress. It is especially keen to hear from those on the climate justice and care frontlines: climate scientists; climate therapists, medics and carers committed to the environmental movement; and youth activists, community leaders and campaigners. Fill out the interest form.
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTS
In each newsletter, we try to include some climate facts from/for our younger audience 😊 If you or someone you know would like to contribute, please let us know.
Did you know that flamingos get their iconic pink colour from the algae and tiny shrimp they eat? Climate change is affecting the lakes and wetlands where flamingos feed, threatening their food sources — and, yes, potentially their colour too! Healthy wetlands are also crucial carbon stores, making their protection an important part of fighting the climate crisis.
PUBLICATIONS
Article: More than a Placard: The Power of Youth Generated Visual Evidence in Climate Decision Making, by Michelle Catanzaro & Varsha Yajman.
Book chapter: Children and Youth Justice, by Emily Murray and Margherita Paola Poto.
Book chapter: Childhood Amid the Climate and Political Emergency, by Anete Abramovixz.
Book chapter: Engaging Youth and Children in Climate Action: Strategies for Meaningful Participation, by Sithandolwenkosi Nkomo.
Book chapter: Beyond Borders in Tanzania: Centering Children in Co-Creating Environmental and Social Justice, by C. Sarti.