Our Children’s Trust

Our Children’s Trust elevates the voice of youth to secure the legal right to a stable climate and healthy atmosphere for the benefit of all present and future generations. Through our programs, youth participate in advocacy, public education and civic engagement to ensure the viability of all natural systems in accordance with science. 

Our mission is to protect the earth’s atmosphere and natural systems for present and future generations. We lead a game-changing legal campaign seeking systemic, science-based emissions reductions and climate recovery policy at all levels of government. We give young people, those with most at stake in the climate crisis, a voice to favourably impact their futures.

Pathway to Climate Recovery

A safe climate and livable future are possible. We want everyone to understand that this reality for our youth and future generations is in reach. This presentation is designed for distribution to schools, teachers, students, and other groups for use in support of deeper conversations about climate recovery and the remedy being requested in Juliana v. U.S.

The Science

Our Children’s Trust bases its work on current climate science. 

The scientific community widely recognizes that CO2 is increasing in our atmosphere, and that it is having dramatic effects on our climate. Current science tells us that reducing atmospheric CO2 levels from over 400 parts per million (“ppm”) to below 350 ppm is necessary to restore the Earth’s energy balance and to stabilize our climate system. We must do this soon if we are to leave a sustainable planet to our children and grandchildren. The longer we wait, the more drastic the consequences our children will face. 

WHY 350PPM AND 1°C

To limit warming to even 1.5°C is not a safe target. All of our experts & United States government witnesses in Juliana v. US say that we are currently in the “danger zone” and an “emergency situation” with already 1°C of heating.

Allowing the planet to heat another .5 or 1°C is not safe for humanity, our collective children, island nations, or so many other species. We will irreversibly lose our ice sheets & the world’s island & coastal communities & entire ways of life if we set 1.5 or 2°C as our target.