A federal district court in Los Angeles held the first hearing in a youth climate case today. 18 children from across California are suing the Environmental Protection Agency.

KQED’s Alix Soliman reports:

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The youth plaintiffs — aged eight to seventeen — argued that their case should move to trial.

They say that the EPA violated their constitutional right to equal protection under the law by allowing the burning of fossil fuels to warm the climate.

Catherine Smith is one of their attorneys:

“The history of discrimination against children is real, and what we’re seeing with the EPA’s conduct in creating the conditions is really a vestige of that history.”

The federal government moved to get the case dismissed. This is one of a handful of youth-led climate cases moving through the courts nationwide. 

I’m Alix Soliman, KQED News. 

Photo courtesy of Our Children’s Trust: Plaintiffs in Genesis v. EPA