Let\u2019s look at two of the climate cases going on now. They may just change the future for Canada and the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n
The first climate lawsuit led by young people in Canada<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2025\/05\/4b1b35f9-ecojustice_tillynelson_812-683x1024-1.jpg\")
\u00a0The seven young plaintiffs in Mathur et al. v. Ontario, a historic youth-led climate case. Photo by Tilly Nelson, set design Kendra Martyn & Kira Evenson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\nThe Ontario government changed its climate plans in 2018. It said it would only cut greenhouse gas pollution by 30% by 2030. Before that, it had promised to cut 37%. <\/p>\n\n
It hadn\u2019t counted on a challenge from seven young climate activists.<\/p>\n\n
The climate activists, between the ages of 12 and 24, launched a lawsuit<\/a> against Ontario\u2019s government. They asked the court to order the government to cut more greenhouse gas pollution. <\/p>\n\nThey argued that the government was violating their rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It was risking the life, liberty, and personal security of Ontario\u2019s youth and future generations. <\/p>\n\n
It was Canada\u2019s first climate lawsuit led by young people<\/a>.<\/p>\n\nA judge dismissed the case<\/a> in 2023, but the activists didn\u2019t give up. They took their case to the top court in Ontario, the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal sided with the<\/a> activists in 2024 and said their lawsuit could go forward. <\/p>\n\nIt was the first time<\/a> in Canadian history that courts agreed climate change could violate Charter rights, making it easier for people to bring cases like this to court in the future.<\/p>\n\nHere\u2019s how one of the activists, Shaelyn Wabegijig, explained<\/a> why she\u2019s taking the Ontario government to court: <\/p>\n\n\u201cI\u2019m part of this lawsuit for everyone, for future generations and for our non-human relatives. If I ever bring children into this world, I want to be able to share healthy air, land and water, a safe climate, and my culture. As a member of the Caribou Clan, my cultural identity is interconnected with Ontario\u2019s boreal caribou, and it risks disappearing if this species is wiped out.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\nYou can <\/strong>meet the seven activists and learn why they\u2019re taking Ontario\u2019s government to court by reading #GenClimateAction<\/a>.<\/p>\n\nTaking climate action to the world\u2019s highest court<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2025\/05\/f6ef1734-gp1sxu5j_pressmedia-2500px-min-1024x684.jpg\")
Climate activist in Vanuatu holds \u201cYouth for Climate Justice\u201d sign. \u00a9\u00a0 Whitelight Media Production \/ Greenpeace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\nA group of law students were studying at the University of South Pacific in the country of Vanuatu in 2019. They all came from Pacific island nations. These nations are some of the most vulnerable in the world<\/a> to the impacts of climate change. Droughts and cyclones there are getting worse. Rising seas could cover whole countries by the end of the century. Climate change is threatening the islanders\u2019 lives, cultures, and identities.<\/p>\n\nThat\u2019s why the law students wanted the world\u2019s highest court \u2013 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) \u2013 to issue an advisory opinion<\/strong> on the climate crisis. An advisory opinion doesn\u2019t become law around the world. But it does become a guide for how countries make laws and how courts decide cases.<\/p>\n\nThe law students grew their idea into a movement of young people around the world. Then, their idea became a reality.<\/p>\n\n
The ICJ began hearings in the case in 2024. It was asked to give its opinion on an important question. What legal responsibility do nations have to protect people from climate change, now and in the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n\nThe judges heard the stories of people in communities affected by climate change. They also heard from over 100 countries and international organizations.<\/p>\n\n
The president of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change<\/a>, Cynthia Houniuhi, spoke. She said her land was very close to being swallowed up by the rising seas:<\/p>\n\n
The Ontario government changed its climate plans in 2018. It said it would only cut greenhouse gas pollution by 30% by 2030. Before that, it had promised to cut 37%. <\/p>\n\n
It hadn\u2019t counted on a challenge from seven young climate activists.<\/p>\n\n
The climate activists, between the ages of 12 and 24, launched a lawsuit<\/a> against Ontario\u2019s government. They asked the court to order the government to cut more greenhouse gas pollution. <\/p>\n\n They argued that the government was violating their rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It was risking the life, liberty, and personal security of Ontario\u2019s youth and future generations. <\/p>\n\n It was Canada\u2019s first climate lawsuit led by young people<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n A judge dismissed the case<\/a> in 2023, but the activists didn\u2019t give up. They took their case to the top court in Ontario, the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal sided with the<\/a> activists in 2024 and said their lawsuit could go forward. <\/p>\n\n It was the first time<\/a> in Canadian history that courts agreed climate change could violate Charter rights, making it easier for people to bring cases like this to court in the future.<\/p>\n\n Here\u2019s how one of the activists, Shaelyn Wabegijig, explained<\/a> why she\u2019s taking the Ontario government to court: <\/p>\n\n \u201cI\u2019m part of this lawsuit for everyone, for future generations and for our non-human relatives. If I ever bring children into this world, I want to be able to share healthy air, land and water, a safe climate, and my culture. As a member of the Caribou Clan, my cultural identity is interconnected with Ontario\u2019s boreal caribou, and it risks disappearing if this species is wiped out.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n You can <\/strong>meet the seven activists and learn why they\u2019re taking Ontario\u2019s government to court by reading #GenClimateAction<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n A group of law students were studying at the University of South Pacific in the country of Vanuatu in 2019. They all came from Pacific island nations. These nations are some of the most vulnerable in the world<\/a> to the impacts of climate change. Droughts and cyclones there are getting worse. Rising seas could cover whole countries by the end of the century. Climate change is threatening the islanders\u2019 lives, cultures, and identities.<\/p>\n\n That\u2019s why the law students wanted the world\u2019s highest court \u2013 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) \u2013 to issue an advisory opinion<\/strong> on the climate crisis. An advisory opinion doesn\u2019t become law around the world. But it does become a guide for how countries make laws and how courts decide cases.<\/p>\n\n The law students grew their idea into a movement of young people around the world. Then, their idea became a reality.<\/p>\n\n The ICJ began hearings in the case in 2024. It was asked to give its opinion on an important question. What legal responsibility do nations have to protect people from climate change, now and in the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n The judges heard the stories of people in communities affected by climate change. They also heard from over 100 countries and international organizations.<\/p>\n\n The president of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change<\/a>, Cynthia Houniuhi, spoke. She said her land was very close to being swallowed up by the rising seas:<\/p>\n\nTaking climate action to the world\u2019s highest court<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n