An Inconvenient Lawsuit: Teenagers Take Global Warming to the Courts

[xchrom]

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2012/05/alec-loorz-global-warming-lawsuit



Alec Loorz became a climate activist at age 12 after watching An Inconvenient Truth twice in one evening. Photo: Victoria Loorz


This story was produced by the Atlantic as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

Alec Loorz turns 18 at the end of this month. While finishing high school and playing Ultimate Frisbee on weekends, he's also suing the federal government in US District Court in Washington, D.C.

The Ventura, California, teen and four other juvenile plaintiffs want government officials to do more to prevent the risks of climate change—the dangerous storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, and food-supply disruptions that scientists warn will threaten their generation absent a major turnabout in global energy policy. Specifically, the students are demanding that the US government start reducing national emissions of carbon dioxide by at least six percent per year beginning in 2013.

"I think a lot of young people realize that this is an urgent time, and that we're not going to solve this problem just by riding our bikes more," Loorz said in an interview.

The youth—represented, pro bono, by the Burlingame, California, law firm of former US Republican congressman Paul "Pete" McCloskey, a co-founder of Earth Day—filed the suit, Alec L. et. al vs. Lisa P. Jackson, et. al, in May of last year. Defendants include not only Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson but the heads of the Commerce, Interior, Commerce, Defense, Energy, and Agriculture departments. This Friday, US District Court Judge Robert L. Wilkins, an Obama appointee, will hear arguments on the defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint.

[Bigmack]

1. This retired teacher is DAMNED proud

of these young people! I stand in awe of their courage and determination. Ms Bigmack

[kristopher]

2. Wouldn't it be something if this was what turned the tide?

I don't hold much hope because a village in Alaska tried a similar approach and as far as I know, failed.

Their academic successors are going to have a bit tougher time on this subject though.

Conservative thinktanks step up attacks against Obama's clean energy strategy
Confidential memo seen by Guardian calls for climate change sceptics to turn American public against solar and wind power ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/112714465

Post 12 that thread lays out some details...

Youth Outreach will create program for public school coordination as well as college coordination.
This will include community activity and participation with sponsorships for science fairs, school activity etc. with preset parameters that cause students to steer away from wind because they discover it doesn't meet the criteria we set up (poster contest, essays etc).