Photo: Robin Loznak

Photo: Robin Loznak

News Reel

(Published) March 22, 2018 - TEDx

As a high school student, Aji Piper joined with other students in the fight to combat global warming. Together, they sued the Washington State Department of Ecology and won a ruling to enact new regulatory standards. Now, they are taking their fight to the next level by challenging the Federal government.

April 5, 2019 - The Washington Post: The Energy 202: Young people take center stage at new House climate committee's first hearing

April 5, 2019 - Who.What.Why.: YOUNG LEADERS URGE CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

April 4, 2019 - The Hill: Newly-formed House climate panel holds first hearing

April 4, 2019 - Courthouse News Service: Inaugural Hearing of House Climate Group Gathers Young Voices

April 4, 2019 - ABC News: Young climate activists come before Congress to urge action

April 4, 2019 - Grist: Young climate leaders just told a House committee to get its act together

April 4, 2019 - Mashable: Teens drop eloquent climate change testimony on Congress

April 4, 2019 - MSN: 18-year-old climate change activist testifies before Congress

March 27, 2019 - The Root: 2019 Young Futurists: For These 25 Game Changers, the Future Is Now

March 21, 2019 - Vogue: Do Americans Have a Constitutional Right to a Livable Planet? Meet the 21 Young People Who Say They Do

November 12, 2018: This teen activist dropped out of high school to focus on climate - grist

September 20, 2018: Young people aren’t waiting for permission to lead the reGeneration - Impact Alpha

April 21, 2017: "Bring it on": Students sue Trump administration over climate change - CBS N

April 10, 2017: Youth continue legal action against federal government as temperatures continue rising - New Mexico Political Report

March 11, 2017: Climate In Court - The Planet Magazine

February 27, 2017 - Meet the Students Taking the Government to School, and to Court, in Landmark Climate Change Lawsuit - The 74

April 14, 2016: Landmark Climate Lawsuit: Meet the Youth Activists Suing the U.S. Government & Fossil Fuel Industry - Democracy Now!

 

Aji Piper

Age: 23, Hometown: Seattle, WA

"Our federal government has not been held accountable for their gross failure to protect the life and the future life on this earth, forcing us children to take drastic actions to procure the needed motivation in order to save life on this planet."

As The Planet Magazine wrote about him, Aji "seems like a typical teenager, until he starts to speak on issues ranging from climate systems to social justice and education policy." Aji's love for the earth began growing up in Port Orchard, WA, at the end of a half mile dirt road. His mother raised him in connection with Buddhism and herbalism, and when Aji was 12 he joined Plant for the Planet, a youth-run organization that has planted 14 billion trees worldwide. Now a member of the Earth Guardians RYSE Council, Aji has spoken at numerous rallies, events and universities, and even began a lawsuit against the Department of Ecology in Washington before joining the #youthvgov federal case.

Kelsey speaks outside the US Supreme Court, April 27, 2017. Photo: Robin Loznak

Aji and his fellow #youthvgov plaintiffs outside their March 2016 court hearing. Photo: -amw, Flickr

The world’s only non-profit public interest law firm dedicated exclusively to securing the legal rights of youth to a healthy atmosphere and safe climate, based on the best available science.