Youth play a crucial role in the global climate movement; however, generally speaking, too few legal resources are devoted specifically to youth activism.
Youth climate activists and climate defenders are on the frontlines of calls for climate action and justice around the world. They are essential to the advancement of the global climate movement, which would be manifestly unable to achieve its objectives without the critical work of these activists and climate defenders. Moreover, youth climate advocates have been able to clarify the moral urgency of swift climate action like never before. They have pushed the boundaries of political and legal discourse and action on climate change and have leveraged their activism to pressure governments and corporations on their climate records. In many ways, the youth climate movement sets the agenda for climate action.
Nevertheless, climate defenders and activists have been met with fierce resistance from both governmental and corporate actors, who often harass, criminalize, or otherwise target these youth activists and climate defenders for their efforts to advance meaningful climate action.
In recognition of both the critical role these activists and defenders play as well as their urgent need for legal support, protection, and strategies, CLX launched its Youth Initiative. This Initiative supports climate activists and defenders using four primary modalities:
- (1) fellowships;
- (2) capacity building in the lead-up to, during, and after the COP summits;
- (3) knowledge building and exchange;
- (4) legal defense support.