How did you become an activist at such a young age?

Environmental activist and winner of the inaugural Children’s Climate Prize (2016) Xiuhtezcatl Martinez discusses the landmark climate-change litigation case, Juliana vs. The United States of America, in which he is a lead plaintiff. He is one of 21 youth from across the U.S.A. who have come together in this suit with climate scientist Dr. James Hansen to sue the United States federal government for its failure to protect the health of future generations. By neglecting to safeguard the atmosphere on which U.S. citizens depend from threats such as rising carbon-dioxide emissions, which are closely linked to global warming and climate change in scientific studies and assessment reports, the plaintiffs in this landmark case contend that the U.S. government has violated its fundamental responsibilities to protect the public trust.

Environmental activist, winner of the inaugural Children’s Climate Prize (2016), and lead plaintiff in the lawsuit Juliana vs. The United States of America, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez discusses how he became involved in environmental justice activism at a very young age and how this experience has shaped his life.

Environmental activist and winner of the inaugural Children’s Climate Prize (2016) Xiuhtezcatl Martinez reflects on the history of great social change, offering a message of hope and solidarity to those who fear their small voices may not be enough to make a difference.

Environmental activist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, winner of the inaugural Children’s Climate Prize (2016), explains how climate change in his view is the central issue of our era precisely because it connects to so many other issues that define today’s critical social and environmental challenges, from racism to forced climate migration, from water security in the hinterlands of North American to degradation of our oceans, from LGBTQ rights to the rights of indigenous people. To Xiuhtezcatl these are all part of the same struggle.