Climate Change Lawsuit: Standing Up for the Future
Climate change is one of the world's most pressing issues. Furthermore, when it comes to the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference deadline, present attempts to reduce greenhouse emissions are running out. In an interview with Victoria Barret on Public Radio International (PRI) The World, it is clear that even the younger generation is striving to bring about much-needed action on climate change issues (Ahearn).
The Juliana v. the United States Case: Protecting Constitutional Rights
As a result, she and 21 other children have launched a lawsuit against the United States government in this subject. The case presented as Juliana v. the United States spells out that the United States government has failed to protect the constitutional rights of its citizens. In particular, the drilling of oil and the usage of fossil fuels happens under the watch of the same authorities.
The Catastrophic Consequences of Inaction
Scientists have raised an alarm that greenhouse emissions are on an upward trend and without corrective measures, the situation could become irreversible in the future. Specifically, they estimate that temperatures will rise by an approximated 5C which many individuals consider negligible (Davenport). However, the result may be catastrophic as this means that ice lands will melt leading to a rise in the sea level. Barret claims that she has always been up for change and this lawsuit gave her that opportunity to stand for what she represents. Despite the fact that the history of ending climate change dating back to the 19th century, nobody has ever come out to sign a global agreement (Harvey). Scientists have made progress, but all their findings just point to rising temperatures without offering the way forward.
The Necessary Radicality of the Lawsuit
Most legal experts claim that the lawsuit filed by Barret and her colleagues is radical whereas to them it is necessary. Barret's mom originates from Honduras, and her daughter engaging herself in a lawsuit with the government did not augur well with her (Ahearn). However, she later believed an agreement to curb climate change was possible. In particular, to Barret, the government has violated the Fifth Amendment by allowing the rise in greenhouse gas emissions to take place. For this matter, the citizens have been put at risk, and this lawsuit will seek to ask the responsible authorities to commit to the issue at hand. For James Huffman, a law professor at the Lewis and Clark Law School, the lawsuit seems overambitious and has stretched to boundaries where the constitutional law has never reached (Ahearn). On the other hand, it presents a chance for the courts to explore new grounds that could offer a solution to the climate crisis facing the globe.
The Importance of Involving Developing Countries
The goals set at the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference set a blueprint that guides the entire process of curbing climate change (Masker and Lammy 154). The attendance of heads of state of different governments shows that there is the willingness to pursue this course. However, the involvement of developing countries is critical to the success of this mission. Besides, the developing countries are the most affected, yet they contribute the least to the greenhouse gas emissions. The misconception that adult climate activists are taking advantage of the young generation like is the case for Barret, and her colleagues show that there is a long way to go. Hence, we should acknowledge that such a lawsuit on climate change whether it succeeds or fails, still sends a strong message.
Works Cited
Ahearn, Ashley. “This 18-Year-Old From New York Is Suing The Trump Administration Over Climate Change.” Public Radio International. N.p., 2017. Web. 27 Oct. 2017.
Davenport, Coral. “Nations Approve Landmark Climate Accord In Paris.” Nytimes.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 27 Oct. 2017.
Harvey, Fiona. “Everything You Need To Know About The Paris Climate Summit And UN Talks.” the Guardian. N.p., 2015. Web. 27 Oct. 2017.
Masker, John, and Steven Lammy. Introduction To Global Politics. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.
