These activists, alongside 13 courageous plaintiffs, challenged Hawaii's Department of Transportation over its current policies prioritising fossil fuel-based transportation infrastructure over sustainable alternatives. Bringing their concerns to court, they argued that these policies violated their constitutional rights to a clean environment, crucial for their well-being and future.

Transportation is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Hawaii and across the United States as a whole. The sector not only failed to reduce emissions but was also “heading in the opposite direction, without any plan or prospect" to meet climate targets, as stated in the lawsuit.

The legal battle, initiated in June 2022, gained traction by spotlighting the harmful impacts of Hawaii's transportation decisions on greenhouse gas emissions and local communities. The plaintiffs, including Indigenous youths, shared personal stories at press conferences, expressing how climate change has already affected their lives, from disappearing coral reefs to coastal erosion threatening their ancestral lands. The youngest plaintiff was nine years old at the time.

"One great thing to talk about is the hope this brings us. For many of us, we’ve seen our beaches falling into the water and our coral reefs disappearing our whole lives," said Lucina, a 17-year-old plaintiff.

In the recent landmark settlement, Hawaii's Department of Transportation announced that they will commit fully to decarbonising the state's transportation systems by 2045 – including ground transportation, sea travel, and inter-island air transportation.

As Hawaii sets a precedent with its proactive stance on climate action, it is hopeful that this momentum will inspire similar youth-led efforts in other parts of the world, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable future for generations to come.

For more on historic climate victories, read our previous story about Swiss women challenging their government’s climate inaction.

Image by Robin Loznak; Courtesy of Our Children’s Trust.

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