Natalie Roberts is Full of Purpose and Positivity Heading into Her Second Constitutional Rights Case
January 30, 2026
Youth plaintiff Natalie Roberts speaking at a press conference outside the Utah Supreme Court. Photo by Robin Loznak.
The air quality in Salt Lake City is often so bad that some days Natalie Roberts can’t even go outside or see down to the end of her street. From a young age, she has felt the weight of a future threatened by worsening air quality from fossil fuel pollution and climate change, not just for herself but for all young Utahns. So, she stepped out and pursued an avenue of systemic change: the judicial system.
In 2022, she was joined by six other youth from across Utah in filing a constitutional climate lawsuit against the state, becoming the lead plaintiff in Natalie R. v. State of Utah. “I’m really proud to have that title,” Natalie says, “I think it really shows what this means to me.”
The case argued that the state’s policies to promote and authorize fossil fuel development were harming young people by worsening air quality and climate change in violation of their state constitutional rights to life, health, and safety.
Undaunted
In March of 2025, the Utah Supreme Court issued a partial win for Natalie and her fellow youth plaintiffs. The Court acknowledged the scale of fossil fuel extraction in Utah, the harms it causes young people, and recognized that state regulators have the power to completely phase out fossil fuel development based on the dangers of the climate crisis. Setting a clear path forward for the youth to continue their fight to protect their constitutional rights, the Court clarified that, to receive meaningful relief, the plaintiffs needed to target specific government conduct.
Natalie Roberts and her fellow youth plaintiffs. Photo by Robin Loznak.
Following that guidance, Natalie and her fellow plaintiffs, joined by three new youth, filed a new case: Roberts v. Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining. In the new case, the youth are challenging the hundreds of permits for fossil fuel development that state regulators have approved since the Utah Supreme Court’s decision, with Natalie again leading the charge as lead plaintiff.
“It’s great to have everyone back that was on the other case,” Natalie says of her fellow youth plaintiffs. “They were all motivated to continue doing this. And I think that shows the amazing work the Our Children’s Trust attorneys and staff have done in keeping us super positive, inspired, and making us want to come back for a second round. It has been super amazing.”
LOVE FOR NATURE
At the heart of this litigation is a love for nature, for her home, and a determination to address the harm that she and her fellow youth plaintiffs face from their state government’s ongoing actions to worsen fossil fuel pollution. The lawsuit seeks to protect their right to clean air, good health, and a safe future.
“Places like Cottonwood Canyon and Big Cotton Canyon are beautiful all year round, but you can see the changes happening. Snow is melting earlier, winters are warmer, and the landscape feels different each year because of climate change.”
A Slow but Powerful Process
As for the new plaintiffs joining the case, Natalie has wisdom to share. “This is a slow process. and you might not see huge leaps right away, but every step is meaningful.”
After the first case lasted 3 years, taking on a new lawsuit is a major undertaking, but Natalie is confident that this is forward progress, and the outcomes will be worth the amount of time spent. “The work we’re doing now may not bring immediate results as we have to work our way through the court system, but it can still make a real difference.”
Through these cases, Natalie has come to see the judicial system as a vital tool for making that change. Not just for herself, but for young people across Utah. “These cases made me realize how important the courts are,” reflects Natalie. “The state’s decisions directly affect our health, the air we breathe, and the future we will inherit. Taking action in court is one way we can protect ourselves and make our voices heard.”
Even with the challenges ahead, Natalie is determined to see the case through, knowing that standing up for her rights now is shaping the future she and other youth plaintiffs deserve.