Examining inalienable human rights and corporate rights.
Ultimate Teach-In:
Kids, Climate, and the Courts
Based on Lesson 6 of Activating My Democracy, this workshop explores game-changing actions in real time: how to use our rights to defend against government abuses of power. Participants consider why people seek judicial relief and examine basic elements of a civil lawsuit, drawing on real examples from the youth-driven landmark climate cases in federal and state courts. Participants explore: “standing” in a court of law; how new rights are recognized; rights under the Public Trust Doctrine; court remedies in constitutional rights cases; and how cases proceed through the state court system. Participants gain an understanding of how values, law, science, and politics interface when addressing complex public problems with multiple perspectives.
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Learning Objectives
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
- Describe why people seek judicial relief and how civil cases proceed through the court system
- Explain how new fundamental rights are determined
- Explain why the landmark youth-driven lawsuits are constitutional rights cases and the possible scope of social consequences
- Describe the basic principles of the Public Trust Doctrine and peoples’ rights under this doctrine
- Identify ways for students to act locally to build on youth momentum in civic engagement
- Understand the connection between sustainable systems and authentic democracy
Feature Activities
- Partner vocab activity: “Unscramble this case”
- Group activity: “Statement of standing:” Identify claims of harm to 4 types of wealth
- Small group activity: “You be the Judge:” Decide whether some of the goals in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution can be met without a stable climate system
- Small group activity: “Know your rights”
- Identify public trust resources from list of public property
- Small group activity: “Game Changer”
- Partner activity: “IN BRIEF for Educators” example
- Individual reflection activity: “How might you use this in your classroom?”
Sharing Activities
- Review vocab and overview of youth-driven climate cases (10 min)
- Discuss examples of harm to four types of wealth (economic, environmental, social, and political) (20 min)
- Group discussion and tally of votes to determine whether the right to a stable climate system should be recognized as a new fundamental right (20 min)
- Introduce public trust doctrine and interactive discussion (15 min)
- Introduces court system and comparison of youth legal activities in two states (30 min)
- Introduction of nexus to Lesson 6: IN BRIEF for Educators and discussion (10 min)
- Share ideas and suggestions (15 min)
