The Lonely Fight Of Young Climate Activists

In the United States, 21 young people (aged between 9 and 21) are suing the government for not protecting them from environmental degradation, including climate change. Federal judges have, so far, rebuffed the attempts from the government and the fossil fuel industry to drop the case.

So how's life for a teenager plaintiff in this lawsuit? How does a 14-year-old cope with the pressure in an increasingly polarized society? How does such an action affect the relationships of a young girl living in one of the most conservative and denialist regions in North America?

Jayden Foytlin is that girl. She lives in Rayne, Louisiana, a small community where most people live off the oil industry. Her best friend is not allowed to spend time with her anymore, and she's facing general isolation in her hometown. Her family has been the target of threats and aggressions. But this article shines a positive light on her life, and how her legal action has actually improved things for her.

Louisiana is fertile ground for climate denial. Being one of the poorest states in the Union, the oil industry holds it hostage for jobs, even though it's one of the most affected areas by climate change consequences like storms, coastal erosion and sea level rise:

Louisianans are less likely than most other Americans to believe in man-made climate change. That's partly because of a long campaign by fossil fuel interests to muddy the science on global warming and fight pollution regulation. In Rayne, many men work oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, including Jayden's own father at one time, and there's a natural sympathy for an industry that has been painted as a victim of zealous environmentalists. Climate science is not part of the public school curriculum.

This is an excellent story not only about Jayden. It's the story of an inevitable political clash between generations, and the inalienable right to live in an inhabitable planet.