Congressional Resolution Recognizing Children’s Fundamental Rights and Climate Recovery (2020)

On September 23, 2020, a congressional concurrent resolution - S.Con.Res.47 & H.Con.Res.119 - was introduced by members of Congress to support the principles underpinning Juliana v. United States. The resolution recognizing Children’s Fundamental Rights and Climate Recovery is sponsored by Senator Merkley and Representatives Schakowsky, Jayapal, and Rush.

The resolution recognizes that our current climate crisis is disproportionately affecting the health, economic opportunity, and fundamental rights of children which demands that the United States develop a national, comprehensive, science-based, and just climate recovery plan to meet necessary emissions reduction targets.

This plan will put the United States on a trajectory consistent with reducing global atmospheric carbon dioxide to below 350 parts per million by the year 2100 to restore the planet’s energy balance and stabilize our climate system to uphold children’s fundamental rights. Experts have found multiple technically and economically feasible pathways to place all sectors of our economy on a path to reach this target.

• Visit Congress.gov to learn more about S.Con.Res.47 & H.Con.Res.119.

• Download the press release here.

• Hear what our members of Congress and endorsers have to say here.

• A recording of the September 23, 2020 virtual press conference with members of Congress and 4 Juliana plaintiffs can be viewed here.

• Download the fact sheet here.

• Download the Senate Resolution here.

• Download the House Resolution here.

Endorsements

We are grateful to our 54 resolution endorsements from leading climate, public health, children’s, legal, labor, minority, business, faith, and human rights organizations:

Next Steps

If you are a legislator, learn more about how you can support this congressional concurrent resolution, and other ways to support the Juliana 21, here.

If you are an individual or an organization, contact your legislators and show your support! More details on how to stand with the Juliana plaintiffs can be found here.

Learn more about the Juliana v. United States plaintiffs by reading their bios and watching two short videos: a visit to Congress in this video from the Years Project and this 60 minutes segment.

Questions? Contact Liz Lee at liz@ourchildrenstrust.org for more information and how to become an endorser to the resolution.