Climate on Trial: Youth-led Legal Climate Challenge in Wisconsin

Youth at the Wisconsin Climate March on September 28, 2025. Photo originally posted by Our Children’s Trust

Fifteen Wisconsin Youth, ages 8-17, are suing the State of Wisconsin and the Public Service Commission, stating that current state law is worsening climate change and threatening their right to a livable healthy future. Together with Our Children’s Trust and Midwest Environmental Advocates they filed the lawsuit in last August.

A new documentary has been published by WHEN Justice detailing some of the specific complaints and challenges that these youth are considering with respect to their health as they think about their future. Jonathan Patz contributed to the discussion of the core risk of climate change to public health with more extreme flooding events, heatwaves, infectious diseases, wildfire smoke events and more.