Can 'climate kids' take on governments and win?

By Katy Scott, CNN

Updated 0251 GMT (1051 HKT) July 25, 2018

Children around the world are lobbying, marching and even suing their governments to take greater action against climate change. <br /><br />Over the weekend youth-led organization Zero Hour orchestrated three days of action, culminating with a youth climate march in Washington DC.
Photos: Climate kids around the world
Zero Hour – Children around the world are lobbying, marching and even suing their governments to take greater action against climate change.

Over the weekend youth-led organization Zero Hour orchestrated three days of action, culminating with a youth climate march in Washington DC.
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Youth activists have been at the forefront of a number of climate lawsuits against governments, including the 21 young plaintiffs <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/29/politics/sutter-climate-kids-march-washington/index.html" target="_blank">suing the US government</a> for failing to address the climate crisis.
Photos: Climate kids around the world
United States – Youth activists have been at the forefront of a number of climate lawsuits against governments, including the 21 young plaintiffs suing the US government for failing to address the climate crisis.
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This group of young plaintiffs claims the administration is failing to protect their right to a habitable planet. The US Government has <a href="http://blogs2.law.columbia.edu/climate-change-litigation/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/case-documents/2018/20180717_docket-18A65_application.pdf" target="_blank">filed a motion</a> with the Supreme Court to halt the trial, which is set for 29 October.
Photos: Climate kids around the world
United States – This group of young plaintiffs claims the administration is failing to protect their right to a habitable planet. The US Government has filed a motion with the Supreme Court to halt the trial, which is set for 29 October.
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Earlier this year 25 young activists in Colombia <a href="http://climatecasechart.com/non-us-case/future-generation-v-ministry-environment-others/" target="_blank">successfully sued</a> their government, arguing that its failure to reduce deforestation in the Amazon threatened their constitutional rights to a healthy environment, life, food and water.
Photos: Climate kids around the world
Colombia – Earlier this year 25 young activists in Colombia successfully sued their government, arguing that its failure to reduce deforestation in the Amazon threatened their constitutional rights to a healthy environment, life, food and water.
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In April, Colombia's Supreme Court <a href="http://blogs2.law.columbia.edu/climate-change-litigation/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/non-us-case-documents/2018/20180405_11001-22-03-000-2018-00319-00_decision-1.pdf" target="_blank">ordered</a> the government to take action to address deforestation in the Amazon.
Photos: Climate kids around the world
Colombia – In April, Colombia's Supreme Court ordered the government to take action to address deforestation in the Amazon.
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In Norway, Greenpeace and Nature and Youth, pictured here, filed a <a href="http://blogs2.law.columbia.edu/climate-change-litigation/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/non-us-case-documents/2016/20161018_16-166674TVI-OTIR06_petition-1.pdf" target="_blank">lawsuit</a> against the Norwegian government, saying that it violated the constitution by issuing licenses for deep-sea oil and gas drilling in the Arctic.
Photos: Climate kids around the world
Norway – In Norway, Greenpeace and Nature and Youth, pictured here, filed a lawsuit against the Norwegian government, saying that it violated the constitution by issuing licenses for deep-sea oil and gas drilling in the Arctic.
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However, the Oslo district court said the government's oil and gas plans were acceptable and <a href="http://blogs2.law.columbia.edu/climate-change-litigation/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/non-us-case-documents/2018/20180104_16-166674TVI-OTIR06_judgment-2.pdf" target="_blank">dismissed</a> the lawsuit in January this year. Greenpeace and Nature and Youth have since appealed the decision. <br /><br />Pictured here: Members of Norway's Nature and Youth in front of the Oslo district court.
Photos: Climate kids around the world
Norway – However, the Oslo district court said the government's oil and gas plans were acceptable and dismissed the lawsuit in January this year. Greenpeace and Nature and Youth have since appealed the decision.

Pictured here: Members of Norway's Nature and Youth in front of the Oslo district court.
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In the US, 13 young plaintiffs are <a href="https://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/washington" target="_blank">suing the State of Washington</a> for violating their constitutional rights to life, liberty, property, and equal protection of the law by creating and supporting a fossil fuel-based transportation and energy systems.
Photos: Climate kids around the world
Washington D.C. – In the US, 13 young plaintiffs are