Seeking a Climate Solution

Kelsey Juliana and Olivia Chernaik step up

Kelsey Jualiana, the lead plaintiff in Juliana v. The U.S. in 2014 Photo by Todd Cooper

Kelsey Juliana and Olivia Chernaik are suing Gov. John Kitzhaber and the state of Oregon under the Public Trust Doctrine, and their climate change case came before the Oregon Court of Appeals in January. The young women say the governor and state are failing to protect essential natural resources, including the atmosphere, state waters and coastlines. “I’m the first person that should be stepping up,” Juliana says. “You don’t have to be an ‘activist’ to do something. You can be a kid or a parent.”