Climate change has evolved beyond being a mere environmental threat and has become a legal, social, and political issue at both national and international levels. While the United States (US) aims to take a leading role in combating the global climate crisis, this effort has moved into the legal sphere, resulting in political and legal tensions within the country. The influence of high courts on climate policies, disputes between states and the federal government, and the legal action taken by young climate activists are key factors that will shape the future of the climate struggle. This article comprehensively examines the judicial process of the climate fight in the US in terms of constitutional rights, state-federal relations, the energy sector, and the role of young activists.
1. Climate Change and Constitutional Rights: A New Legal Framework
In the US, lawsuits related to climate change have gone beyond the aim of protecting the environment and have been linked to individuals’ fundamental rights. One of the most notable cases in this context is the Juliana v. United States case. Filed by young activists, this lawsuit claims that the US government’s failure to act effectively against climate change constitutes a violation of constitutional rights. The young plaintiffs argue that the government’s inaction on climate policy infringes upon their fundamental rights, such as the right to life, the right to live in a healthy environment, and the right to equality. This case has become a significant legal attempt highlighting how environmental changes threaten the lives and futures of individuals. Advocates of this view argue that the fight against the climate crisis should be regarded as a human rights struggle, leading to further discussion and legal exploration in the judicial field.
The 9th and 10th Amendments of the US Constitution guarantee fundamental individual rights while also defining the limits of federal government authority. However, the government’s insufficient action against climate change strengthens the claims of young people and environmental advocates that these rights are not being protected. Cases like Juliana aim not only to protect the environment but also the living spaces of future generations, thus paving the way for the formation of a new legal framework for combating climate change.
2. State-Federal Conflict: Discrepancies in Local and National Policies
One of the most important and complex aspects of the fight against climate change is the legal and political struggle between states and the federal government.[1] As the US has a federal structure, states are able to create their own laws and regulations in the fight against climate change. However, the federal government, especially in recent years, has implemented more lenient regulations on climate policy and adopted a more flexible approach toward the fossil fuel industry. This has led states to act independently against the federal government in pursuit of their own climate goals.
States like California, in particular, have set strict targets for renewable energy and tried to enforce stricter environmental laws, contrary to federal policy. California’s approach has not only shaped local policies but also influenced national energy policy, prompting many other states to follow its lead. However, this has also escalated tensions between the states and the federal government. For instance, the Trump administration’s pro-fossil fuel policies conflicted with efforts by states like California to reduce carbon emissions.
States’ climate policies often assert their right to act independently of federal laws and regulations. But when these policies are evaluated in the judicial arena, they raise questions about balancing the states’ responsibility to protect the environment with the federal government’s overarching policies. This conflict creates significant uncertainty in the judicial processes regarding climate change solutions.
3. The Role of Young Climate Activists in Legal Struggles
In recent years, young activists in the US have become a powerful social movement in the legal fight against climate change.[2] Young people are not only taking to the streets but are also seeking effective solutions to the climate crisis through the courts. Organizations such as Our Children’s Trust are filing lawsuits to help young people defend their environmental rights and challenge the government’s insufficient action on climate change.[3]
This youth-driven legal movement presents a new dimension beyond traditional environmental law. These lawsuits often focus not on compensation for environmental damage but on the government’s failure to fulfill its responsibilities regarding climate change. In this sense, the judicial process attempts to define the boundaries between environmental protection and individual rights while grounding young people’s concerns for their future in legal arguments. Initiatives like the Juliana case and Our Children’s Trust have not only aimed to overcome legal barriers in the climate fight but also enabled young people to demand greater say in addressing the climate crisis.
One of the major obstacles to climate action in the US is the influence of the energy sector and the lobbying power within it. The fossil fuel industry—especially oil, natural gas, and coal companies—holds significant lobbying power to weaken climate change legislation and circumvent environmental regulations. These companies use their financial resources and political connections to gain support and overcome regulatory barriers.
The Trump administration favored the interests of the fossil fuel industry by weakening environmental protections and implementing policies that increased carbon emissions. While such policies facilitated the operations of energy companies, they were also argued to have harmed efforts to combat climate change. In recent years, however, the rise of the renewable energy sector and growing public pressure have begun to weaken the influence of the fossil fuel industry. Still, legal struggles involving the energy sector continue to generate more judicial processes with each passing year.
The fight against climate change in the US has become more than an environmental issue; it is now a legal, political, and societal challenge. The influence of youth, states, and environmental advocates in the judicial process plays a critical role in solving the climate crisis. The future of the legal battle against climate change will depend on the stances of local and federal governments, the role of the energy sector, and the public’s environmental awareness.
To conclude, the struggle against climate change in the US has evolved into a judicial process that affects not only the environment but also individual rights, the limits of government authority, and the future of energy. The decisions made by judicial bodies to protect the environment and human rights will directly influence the course of global climate policy.
[1] “US House votes to block California’s nation-leading vehicle emissions rules”, AP News, https://apnews.com/article/congress-california-house-cars-climate-vehicle-emissions-95850a7089668198653778ea89a9ee41, (Access Date: 16.05.2025).
[2] “Stop locking young people out of legal process in climate cases, say experts”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/26/stop-locking-young-people-out-of-legal-process-in-climate-cases-say-experts, (Access Date: 16.05.2025).
[3] Our Children Trust, https://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/, (Access Date: 16.05.2025).
