Insights

What can be done when governments fail to act on climate change threats?

Steven Hartman, environmental humanities scholar

Environmental humanities researcher Steven Hartman discusses the Our Children’s Trust case, Juliana vs. the United States of America, as the kind of innovative thinking and novel approach necessary to counteract government failures to act on climate change. Author Naomi Klein has called the lawsuit, now set to go to trial on 5 February 2018, “the most important case in the world.”

Bifrost gratefully acknowledges the leadership of the Sigtuna Foundation and the research network NIES for all their valuable support and work behind the scenes that helped make the interview excerpted in this video possible. Grateful acknowledgment is also made to Sigtunastiftelsen, where the interview was filmed.

How should the scientific community address climate change denial and disinformation?

Environmental humanities researcher Steven Hartman reflects on the challenges facing scientists and educators as they face the growing dilemma of science obfuscation, disinformation and organized climate change denial from the fossil-fuel industry and, increasingly administration the U.S. federal government under the Trump. This dilemma, he notes, is one that affects other sectors in society as well and there are lessons that can be learned from how these challenges are being met.

What can be done when governments fail to act on climate change threats?

Environmental humanities researcher Steven Hartman discusses the Our Children’s Trust case, Juliana vs. the United States of America, as the kind of innovative thinking and novel approach necessary to counteract government failures to act on climate change. Author Naomi Klein has called the lawsuit, now set to go to trial on 5 February 2018, “the most important case in the world.”

How can ordinary people help mitigate climate change?

Environmental humanities researcher Steven Hartman reflects on some of the ways that individuals can have far-reaching effects globally in climate change mitigation efforts by banding together with neighbors, friends, family and colleagues to focus on smaller and more manageable local challenges.

Credit: Hartman, Steven and Peter Norrman. What can be done when governments fail to act on climate change threats? Originally published in bifrostonline.org, 30 November 2017 (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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What is Juliana vs. The United States of America?

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.

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Professor Mary Wood, originator of the atmospheric trust litigation approach put to the test in the historic climate lawsuit Juliana v. United States, explain the public trust doctrine and its significance.