Be present. Bear witness. Show that children’s lives matter.
February 27, 2026
Genesis Bulter, lead youth plaintiff in Genesis v. EPA, speaking at climate event in Washington D.C. Photo by Robin Loznak
Last week, the wind outside my house reached nearly 60 miles per hour. The rain was loud. The thunder was close. Storms like that are not normal for this time of year where I live in Los Angeles. A few weeks ago, it was cold. Soon it will be extremely hot. This is what it feels like to be young right now: unpredictable, uncertain, and a little frightening.
My name is Genesis. I am 19 years old, Afro-Indigenous and Mexican, and I have spent most of my life standing up for my community, for myself, and for our planet.
Growing up in this moment of history is scary. We scroll and see floods, fires, and storms almost every day. But it is not just on a screen. It shows up in our daily lives. In the summer, the heat is intense. My home was built long before air conditioning was common, and installing it now is too expensive. I take online classes, so I wait until nighttime to do my schoolwork, opening every window to let air move through the house.
But wildfire ash and pollen come in. My severe allergies make me cough constantly. I have to choose between breathing hot, heavy air or triggering my allergies. This is climate change in my life. It is not abstract. It is in my lungs, shapes my routine, and interrupts my education. That is one reason why I became a plaintiff in our lawsuit against the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
In Genesis v. EPA, 18 young people from across California are challenging the federal government for discounting the value of our lives and futures when making climate decisions and discriminating against us by allowing dangerous levels of fossil fuel pollution. Our constitutional rights to equal protection of the law and life are being violated, and we are asking the courts to recognize that children deserve protection.
Next week on March 5th, our case will be heard by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
When I think about walking into that courthouse, I feel two things at once: uncertainty because we do not know the outcome, and hope because I trust our legal team and why we are there. I know we are standing on the right side of history. Being a young Afro-Indigenous Mexican woman standing up in court is empowering. My Black identity has taught me empathy and resilience. My ancestors endured injustice and still chose to organize, to build community, and to demand dignity. That history lives in me. It reminds me that showing up matters.
My Mexican heritage has also shaped how I understand advocacy. In my family, if you see injustice, you speak up. I carry the legacy of my uncle, Cesar Chavez, with me. He taught us to be courageous and not to let fear silence us. He faced enormous pressure, yet he kept going because he believed deeply in justice. When I walk into a courthouse, I think about that courage.
I also think about young people in Alaska preparing for oral arguments in their own constitutional climate case before the Alaska Supreme Court on March 4th. In Sagoonick v. State of Alaska II, Alaska Natives and other youth in Alaska are challenging the Alaska LNG Project, a massive fossil fuel megaproject that would roughly triple Alaska greenhouse gas emissions for decades to come. Alaska is warming rapidly and youth there are already experiencing flooding, land loss, wildfire smoke, and erosion. These impacts threaten not only their homes and health but also the cultural practices, subsistence ways of life, and traditions passed down for generations.
Seeing youth in Alaska step forward reminds me of the power of youth voices. Climate change connects us all. Whether it’s wildfire smoke in California or eroded lands in Alaska, young people everywhere are realizing we cannot wait for someone else to act. We have to be the ones who act.
On March 4th in Anchorage, youth plaintiffs will walk into the Alaska Supreme Court to defend their rights. On March 5th in San Francisco, we will walk into the Ninth Circuit to defend ours.
Two courtrooms. One generation refusing to be silent. If you are able, I invite you to show up in person. Stand outside the courthouse. Sit in the courtroom. Bear witness. Your presence matters. A strong showing sends a clear message that children’s lives and constitutional rights are real, urgent, and being watched. Moments like this matter. This is how we turn hope into courage, and courage into action. I hope to see you there.
You can RSVP to attend the hearing in Anchorage here and the hearing in San Francisco here!