In Australia, a court ruled the government has a duty to protect children and the environment from the effects of the climate catastrophe. In a case brought by eight high school students, a federal judge acknowledged, “Many thousands will suffer premature death from heat stress or bushfire smoke.” The judge stopped short, however, of granting an injunction on the expansion of a coal mine. This is Ava Princi, one of the young climate activists and plaintiffs in the historic case.

Ava Princi: “The law now recognizes that the environment minister is in a special position of power to prevent foreseeable harms to young people. I feel elated by this decision, and this is not over. This case was about young people stepping up and demanding more from the adults whose actions are determining our future well-being.”