Since 2015, children throughout the country have been advocating for regulations on fossil fuel usage and suing the President’s administration for not enforcing any laws to limit the causes of climate change. Under the current presidential administration, policies such as the Clean Power Plan are in the process of being repealed, despite the function of the Plan as a way to limit pollution.

The case proposed to the United States government entails the issues of violated constitutional rights to “a safe and viable living atmosphere” in light of the increase in global warming throughout the decades. The court date had been settled for October 29, however, ten days prior to the court date the US Supreme Court issued a temporary halt on the case.

Levi Draheim, the youngest plaintiff for the regulations stated “I live on a barrier island, and I have seen the sea level rise maps. I have personally had to evacuate my home because of hurricanes. I have seen fish killed on my beach, and I have seen changing the weather…That’s why it is important to move forward with this trial.” Jayden Foytin, a 13-year-old Louisianan plaintiff stated “I’m being affected, my generation is being affected, Louisiana is being affected by climate change” she stated, following the loss of her home in Rayne, Louisiana earlier this year due to flooding.

Federal attorneys are arguing the claim that the children have a right to ” a climate system capable of sustaining human life” under the public trust doctrine or the Constitution. “In our view, the Oregon lawsuit is an unconstitutional attempt to use a single court to control the nation’s entire energy and climate policy” stated Acting Assisting Attorney General Jeffery H. Wood.

“Let this youth group be heard! Let the experts testify! Let the court’s doors be opened!” responded Philip Gregory, one of the attorneys for the protesters.