Rush, Schakowsky, Jayapal, Merkley Introduce Resolution Recognizing Children’s Fundamental Climate Rights and the Disproportionate Impact Climate Change Has on the Nation’s Youth
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), along with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), introduced a concurrent resolution in the House of Representatives and the Senate recognizing children’s fundamental climate rights and the disproportionate impact the climate crisis has on the nation’s youth.
The climate movement aligns with the historic civil rights movement which once again is being led by the nation’s courageous youth. In Brown v. Board of Education, children fought for their constitutional rights and sought a court order to desegregate schools. The Juliana v. United States plaintiffs are similarly fighting for their constitutional rights to a stable climate system, so that their generation and future generations can flourish. An additional parallel is evident as today’s youth demand racial justice and environmental justice, two issues especially intertwined given the disproportionate impact of climate change on Black, Indigenous, people of color and other frontline youth and communities.
“The devastation of systemic racism and the COVID-19 public health pandemic has ignited a sense of outrage and consciousness for the myriad injustices that persist in our nation,” said Rep. Rush. Through the introduction of this resolution, we shine a bright light on yet another injustice. Vulnerable and environmental justice communities, including communities of color, low-income communities, and indigenous peoples, bear the brunt of climate change and are disproportionately exposed to pollution. Blatant disregard for this fact will continue to put the children within these communities, who are especially vulnerable, at greater risk.”
Civil rights experts assert that, “climate change is a racial justice issue that has, and will continue to have, particularly devastating effects on communities and people of color, especially the children”
“We’re already seeing the devastating effects of the climate crisis, but it’s today’s children and future generations that will have to pay the bill,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky. “As leaders of this nation, we have a duty to protect everyone, regardless of age or background, from the existential threat of climate change. That’s why we are demanding a climate recovery plan that will put the U.S. on a path toward dramatically reducing global atmospheric carbon dioxide by the year 2100 and uphold children’s fundamental rights. We already know that there multiple economically feasible ways to reach this target that will prioritize good jobs, equity, and the rights of today’s youth to a stable climate.”
The Children’s Fundamental Rights and Climate Recovery Resolution highlights the principles behind the youth-led case, Juliana v. United States, by stating that a stable climate system is fundamental to a free and ordered society and is preservative of other fundamental rights. “The youth seek protection of their constitutional rights to life, liberty, property, and equal protection under the laws, which includes a climate system capable of sustaining human life,” asserts Congresswoman Jayapal. “Everyday I see catastrophic climate-related events escalating. This resolution is more important than ever because children’s rights are at stake. Today, we stand with our youth and we recognize their rights and the disproportionate impacts on children from the perils of climate change.”
“Every child — regardless of the color of their skin, the language they speak, or their parents’ income — deserves a healthy and prosperous future. But how are they supposed to thrive if their planet is ravaged by frequent and extreme wildfires and hurricanes, and unprecedented heat waves and droughts,” said Merkley. “The time is right now to take immediate and decisive steps to stand up for future generations, address the climate crisis, and tackle environmental injustice. To do anything less would be morally reprehensible.”
In September 2019, the Juliana v. United States youth plaintiffs and young American climate leaders, joined by Greta Thunberg, descended on Washington to tell our nation’s leaders to act on climate. On the one-year anniversary of that historic event, young people from across the country will come together once more during the week of the resolution’s introduction for virtual lobby days hosted by Our Children’s Trust, 350.org and the National Children’s Campaign. Their mission is to urge members of Congress to recognize their constitutional rights to a stable climate system and demand climate recovery planning.
The Children’s Fundamental Rights and Climate Recovery Resolution recognizes that the current climate crisis disproportionately affects the health, economic opportunity, and fundamental rights of children, and demands that the United States develop a national, comprehensive, science-based, and just climate recovery plan to meet necessary emissions reduction targets. The resolution supports the principles underpinning Juliana v. United States, the landmark constitutional climate lawsuit brought by 21 young Americans, and youth climate organization Earth Guardians, who are suing the executive branch of the federal government for creating a national energy system that causes climate change.
The following organizations expressed their support for the Children’s Fundamental Rights and Climate Recovery Resolution:
Alaska Wilderness League Action, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, American Sustainable Business Council, Amnesty International, Animal Law Society at American University Washington College of Law, Aytzim: Ecological Judaism, Catholic Network US, Call to Action Colorado, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Earth, Energy, and Democracy, Center for Environmental Law and Policy, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Children’s Environmental Health Network, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Climate Action Families, Climate Action Youth, Climate Institute, Climate Justice Alliance, Climate XChange, Earth Guardians, Food & Water Watch, Forest Trends, Friends of the Earth, GreenLatinos, Greenpeace, Higher Ground Initiative, Hip Hop Caucus, Interfaith Moral Action on Climate, Interfaith Power & Light, Labor Network for Sustainability, Lawyers for Climate Action: A Call to the Bar, League of Conservation Voters, League of Women Voters of the United States, Madhvi4EcoEthics, Moms Clean Air Force, National Children’s Campaign, National Congress of American Indians, Our Children’s Trust, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Schools for Climate Action, Science and Environmental Health Network, Sierra Club, Sunrise Movement, 350.org, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Young Voices for the Planet, and Zero Hour.
Earlier this year, as Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy, Rep. Rush released legislative text of the draft Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s (CLEAN) Future Act — an ambitious new climate plan to ensure the United States achieves net-zero greenhouse gas pollution no later than 2050.
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