Our Children's Trust Climate-Change Lawsuit – Fighting for a Better Tomorrow

It is often said that the world is not what it used to be. In some ways, this is great news! Things like advances in medicine, new technologies and inventions, and greater equality for all have made life today better than ever before. But in one significant way, the world is changing for the worse. This is due to climate change – a continual shift in the earth’s atmosphere that will ultimately be harmful. Although part of the shift is a natural occurrence, another part of it is “man-made” – due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil. And there is a very special group of young people who are trying to do something about man’s contribution to the problem.

This group of young people, supported by an organization called Our Children’s Trust, has filed a lawsuit against the federal government asking them to do more to address climate change. Their hope is that through greater government participation, our country can recognize the dangers of climate change and take action to reduce it so that we can make the world of tomorrow a better one!

In this video, 17-year-old environmentalist Alec Loorz talks about climate change and the lawsuit he and others are pursuing.

Additional Resources:

• Here is an article that tells about the climate-change lawsuit.
• Here’s another IMK post about Alec Loorz and his efforts to help the environment.

Topics for Discussion:

• How do you think the young plaintiffs feel as they try to get the government to take action?
• What could happen to the world if climate change is not addressed?

Take Action:

• Visit the website for Our Children’s Trust, the organization that filed the climate-change lawsuit, to learn more about this group and how you can help support it!
• Visit the EPA’s Global Climate Change student page to learn more about climate change and what you can do to help control it.

Teacher Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.