Category Archives: #SaveMiami

I Found HOPE in Washington DC

The last month or so has been a bit of a blur what with my ongoing Ph.D. research, spending over three weeks in Bonn, Germany, as part of the United Nations’ 62nd Subsidiary Body meetings while I worked for the Federated State of Micronesia, and no sooner than I returned to the United States, I was off to Washington DC for two incredibly productive and memorable days just prior to our country’s 249th birthday.

My time in Washington was an unforgettable reminder that young Americans’ voices not only deserve a seat at the table but that we’ve earned it. On July 2nd, for example, I joined the incredible team at Our Children’s Trust (OCT), led by the fierce and ever-brilliant Liz Lee (OCT’s Government Affairs Staff Attorney), for a day of climate advocacy on Capitol Hill. We met with several members of the U.S. House of Representatives and their staff to discuss Lighthiser v. Trump, the federal constitutional climate lawsuit I recently joined as a youth plaintiff, to build support for a new congressional Resolution rooted in climate justice and youth rights (you can learn more about this case in my recent post here).

I am pleased to share that this Resolution will be introduced on Capitol Hill tomorrow (Wednesday, July 16th) in the Senate Swamp at 12:00 p.m. EST, and I hope that if you’re in the DC area, you will join my friends and fellow plaintiffs for the Press Conference! RSVP by visiting bit.ly/resevent2025.

I began what was a busy day with an early flight into DC, and as soon as I arrived and navigated the Capitol’s security, we had a lovely meeting with Representative Schakowsky of Illinois, a longtime environmental champion, and the lead sponsor of our Resolution. From there, the morning was a sprint as we met with Representative Scanlon of Pennsylvania, Representative McClain Delaney of Maryland, and the Legislative Assistant to Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida, who, I’m pleased to say, officially signed onto the Resolution that same day. The tunnels and their hallways under the Capitol were like a beehive of motion, and by day’s end, we’d met with over a dozen Representatives and their staff.

Each of our conversations focused on the legal and constitutional arguments behind Lighthiser v. Trump, which challenges three Trump Administration executive orders that promote fossil fuel extraction, erase climate science from federal websites, and deepen the climate crisis. We’re asking the courts to declare these orders unlawful and block their implementation. But we also need congressional champions to speak out, especially as our rights to life, liberty, and a livable future are on the line.

In addition to these meetings, our team visited other House offices to personally deliver invitations to the July 16th press conference, where we’ll officially unveil the Resolution. It was empowering to walk the halls of Congress with other young Americans who share my concerns and are demanding bold climate leadership while expecting their voices to be heard.

While in DC, I also had the distinct honor of being interviewed as part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on July 3rd to discuss the past decade of my work in climate education, science, and policy, the Lighthiser case, and the critical role that the First Amendment plays in climate activism. To sit on that stage amidst the Mall, steps from the Washington Monument, and participate in an event sponsored by such an iconic institution as the Smithsonian a day before our nation’s birthday made me very proud to be an American.

As I shared onstage, my work since founding The Sink or Swim Project, to suing the State of Florida on multiple occasions, to now challenging our country’s President and his federal executive orders has always relied on my right to speak out, to speak up, to protest, and to advocate. Let there be no doubt that the First Amendment is the foundation of youth climate justice. And that right to speak up and out is, without question, the very essence of what it means to be an American. Without it, our voices would be silenced. With it, we are so very mighty and powerful.

Let none of us forget that, and let all of us cherish and embrace the First Amendment forever. Thanks to the Freedom Forum for sponsoring my participation and John Maynard for the invitation. A special shout-out is in order for Natalia Fleischmann, who conducted my interview with incredible grace and dignity far beyond her 18 years and yet again proved just how powerful and impactful young people in our nation can be.

As a young American, I must say that my time in Washington, DC this month was an inspiring yet humbling experience. Amidst all the daily noise, dysfunction, and disappointment that have been constantly emanating from the White House since January of this year, my time in Washington offered me a pleasant surprise.

It offered me HOPE.

It was deeply motivating to share that stage with another energetic, engaged climate champion and have so many others in attendance, to walk the Capitol and meet with passionate elected lawmakers who share our concerns, and to see our generation’s climate fight gaining momentum. There is hope out there. Things will, I promise, get better because there are a great many fellow citizens like you and me who share our concerns and are dedicated to doing the right thing.

If you’re reading this and wondering if your voice matters, let me be clear: it does. I hope you’ll join us on July 16th as we continue the fight for climate justice and our Constitutional rights together.

Why I’ve Sued President Trump & His Administration

“Trump’s fossil fuel orders are a death sentence for my generation.”
Eva Lighthiser, Youth Plaintiff

I’ve often said that our global climate change crisis is the greatest challenge that today’s youth generations will ever face, and how we deal with it will define our time here on Earth. Unfortunately, since re-taking office early this year, America’s new President and his Administration have knowingly escalated our climate crisis by irresponsibly supporting a reckless increase in fossil fuel production, suppressing climate science (and scientific research in general), and blocking productive solutions to the problem in alarming, shortsighted ways that deeply damage our environment, citizens, and people around the world.

With Trump’s evolving environmental travesty in mind, I am pleased to share that young people all over our great country are fighting back and am proud to announce that last week (May 29, 2025) I joined 21 brave, young Americans in suing U.S. President Donald Trump and the Trump Administration in federal court in hopes of stopping his assault on our environment and citizens. Our lawsuit targets not only the President but various applicable agencies and departments within his Administration including the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Interior, Department of Transportation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, and National Institute of Health.

Our new case, Lighthiser v. Trump, is what’s called a constitutional rights lawsuit designed to challenge the Trump Administration’s stated desire to “unleash fossil fuels” through a disturbing series of Executive Orders that accelerate fossil fuel expansion while blocking wind and solar energy, storage, efficiency, and electric vehicles, intensifing our climate emergency and suppressing critical climate science. My fellow plaintiffs and I are making two constitutional claims based on (1) violations of our rights to life and liberty under the Fifth Amendment and (2) executive overreach, which in legal terms is considered “ultra vires,” meaning the president has exceeded the legal limits of his power.

Our lawsuit primarily focuses on three of President Trump’s recent Executive Orders, including:

1. Executive Order 14154 “Unleashing American Energy“: The President’s Executive Order directs the federal government to “unleash fossil fuels” and block renewable energy efforts, including renewable energy storage and efficiency measures, as well as electric vehicles. It also directs his Administration to suppress science, remove it from government websites, and block the study, research, and dissemination of climate-oriented science and its solutions, amongst other nefarious steps.

The attack on our climate and environment over the first four months of the Trump presidency has been nothing short of savage. By one account, the Trump Administration has taken 140 actions to reduce or eliminate environmental rules so as to increase the use of fossil fuels since Inauguration Day.

Over the course of 24 hours in March of this year, for example, the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency issued 31 actions designed to reduce pollution regulations on cars, trucks, and power plants, while also announcing that it would reevaluate its stance on whether fossil fuel emissions endanger public health. The President’s new EPA Administrator celebrated that day’s work by announcing that he was “driving a dagger into the heart of the climate religion,” and called it “the most consequential day of deregulation in American history.” Comments such as these from the person supposedly charged with protecting our environment and public health surely mark one of America’s saddest days, shocking people around the world. 

2. Executive Order 14156 “Declaring a National Energy Emergency“: On his first day in office earlier this year, President Trump declared a national energy emergency designed to dramatically loosen a variety of existing laws and regulations that otherwise limit his administration’s ability to increase the production and use of fossil fuels.

Facts and the truth matter. And the truth is that America is facing a dire climate emergency, but is NOT suffering from a national energy emergency. Consider the following:

A) The United States produces more energy than it consumes. Year over year, America has a surplus in energy production. 

B) The United States produces more oil than any nation in the world, and that has been the case for many years. 

C) The United States produces more natural gas than any nation in the world, and that has also been the case for several years. America produces twice as much natural gas as Russia, the world’s second-largest producer.

D) The United States is the world’s largest exporter of gasoline, the world’s largest exporter of natural gas, and the fourth-largest exporter of coal.

3. Executive Order 14261 “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry“: This Executive Order intends to effectively increase coal production and use here in the United States.

President Trump has long been fixated on reviving the American coal industry to its past prominence, despite the fact that the country (and much of the world beyond) has been actively transitioning away from burning coal as an energy source for decades.

Two decades ago, coal accounted for approximately 50% of America’s energy; yet, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, it now produces just 16.2% of our energy. Natural gas has significantly displaced coal and now accounts for 43.1% of our energy, while renewable energy sources, such as hydro, solar, and wind, continue to grow rapidly and currently account for 21.4% of America’s energy.

Even the coal industry largely knows it is a dying business. Existing American coal plants are antiquated relics that have operated, on average, for 53 years, yet the industry has not built a single new coal plant (thankfully) since 2013. In February 1985, the coal industry employed 173,000 people, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, as of March 2025, that figure has declined to just 41,200 people.

“Having young people rise up at a time when democracy is threatened and when there’s retaliation against so many people in this country for standing up against the administration, that is success. It’s about having the bravery to bring claims in the court, of not being afraid to use their rights.”
Julia Olson, Lead Lawyer for Lighthiser v. Trump & Founder of Our Children’s Trust

My friends and I believe that each of the President’s Executive Orders are unconstitutional and violate our fundamental rights to life and liberty, including our rights to health and safety and our access to state public trust resources, which are protected by the 5th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Federal governmental actions that unleash fossil fuels and debilitate the Environmental Protection Agency from performing the job it was created to do, that terminate the National Climate Assessment, and that cut or defund scientific research are (to again use a term from my law school education) “ultra vires,” meaning beyond the President’s constitutional and statutory power and, thus, are not legal.

With this in mind, rather than allow our nation to regress towards its polluting past or face “an environmental death sentence,” as Eva mentioned, our lawsuit will ask the court to declare each of these executive orders unconstitutional and halt the various actions already being taken by governmental agencies to implement these orders.

It goes without saying that suing a sitting President and your federal government is no small thing. It’s also incredibly sad that my young friends and I feel forced to fight this battle, to fight those misguided, morally bankrupt adults who would rather place their polluted politics and antiquated ideals ahead of our environment, sustainable solutions, and the well-being of future generations. Alas, that is very much our reality in 2025.

The good news, and it is excellent news indeed, is that my young friends and I are devoted and determined to defeat this President and his Administration.

No matter how powerful the opposition or how daunting the path, we believe – as every generation must – that justice will prevail. Because it has to, the stakes are too high.

This is our moment to fight, not out of choice, but necessity.

For what is right.

For what is legal.

For what is just.

We fight because we must. And we will not stop.

To learn more about our new landmark constitutional lawsuit, please visit www.ourchildrenstrust.org/lighthiser-v-trump or consider the following recent news articles:

The New York Times

The Guardian

Bloomberg Law

The Hill

Sierra Magazine

Inside Climate News

Join Me For Miami Climate Week 2025

Miami is no stranger to rising tides, extreme heat, and the urgent need for climate solutions—but this year, Miami-Dade County is making history by hosting the inaugural Miami Climate Week. This groundbreaking initiative will bring together changemakers, scientists, policymakers, and community leaders to accelerate climate action in South Florida and beyond.

From March 25th to 31st, Miami will host a dynamic lineup of events, panels, workshops, and activations aimed at tackling the biggest environmental challenges of our time. Whether you’re an activist, entrepreneur, student, or concerned resident, this is your chance to be part of the movement shaping Miami’s future in a warming world.

I do hope you can and will join me next week and, as such, I’d like to share a few ways that I’ll be participating.

I am so very proud to share that the University of Miami’s Climate Resilience Institute is anchoring Miami Climate Week by hosting the inaugural Resilience 365 Conference on Monday March 24th and Tuesday the 25th at the University’s Lakeside Expo Center on our Coral Gables campus. This conference brings thought leaders and communities together to discuss solutions to our climate change crisis including climate tech innovations, financing resilience infrastructure, legal topics and ways to foster healthy communities in a warming world.

The speaker lineup at our Resilience 365 Conference next week is simply fantastic. Don’t wait, register today and get involved! To attend or learn more, please click here.

And, speaking of the Conference’s speakers, I’m incredibly honored to share that I will be participating in a few ways. On Monday March 24th, please join me for the Understanding Climate Litigation panel discussion at 3:15 pm in the Lakeside Auditorium. The amazing panelists joining me include Geoffrey SupranCinnamon Carlarne, and Katrina Kuh, and the discussion will be moderated by my friend and esteemed mentor Jessica Owley. I’m confident that it will be a stimulating panel about state, federal, and international climate cases and what they might mean to the future of our battle.

The Resilience 365 Conference will also be hosting a Youth Roundtable entitled Empowering the Next Generation where “students, professors, and professionals will engage and share experiences of creating meaningful action around their key interest areas. We will explore the gap between awareness and action, options for getting involved, challenges young leaders are facing, ways to keep calm while carrying on, and more.” I am proud to be serving on the University of Miami’s Climate Resilience Institute’s inaugural Student Advisory Council and would love to see as many young climate activists and concerned citizens join us for what I anticipate will be a lively discussion. If you’re attending the Conference and interested in joining the discussion, please reach out to me!

And if you can’t attend in person please consider following at MiamiClimate365.com.

And if our inaugural Resilience 365 Conference and Miami Climate Week were not enough, I am pleased to share that I have been chosen to present a TED-like Talk at the University of Miami Graduate & Postdoctoral Research Symposium on March 25th.

My talk, entitled Energizing the Sunshine State, will focus on part of my Ph.D. dissertation research that explores Florida’s lack of a renewable energy landscape, why 95% of Florida’s power is generated from non-renewable sources, and how we’ve allowed our fragile state get into such a mess. The talk touches on part of my recent research that will be published later this Spring by the Louisiana State University Journal of Energy Law and Resources. To learn more about the Symposium, please click here.

I am also excited to share that on Wednesday evening I will be moderating a panel discussion at the University of Miami following a public screening of the documentary film Razing Liberty Square. Our panel will include my dear friend, climate powerhouse extraordinaire, Caroline Lewis and my fellow Miami Hurricane and longtime friend Valencia Gunder.

Climate gentrification is a serious, growing issue here in South Florida. The documentary focuses on the lives of residents of the Liberty Square public-housing community after learning that their homes had become part of $300 million revitalization project that was proposed in 2015. It’s a fascinating look at what happens when a neighborhood located on some of the highest-and-driest ground in the region is targeted for new development and the fight over a new form of racial injustice: Climate Gentrification.

Join us on March 26th at 6:30 PM in the University of Miami Frost Seminar Room. Seats are limited to this free event so please register ASAP for what will be a thought-provoking and important discussion following the screening. To learn more and register, click here.

Miami Climate Week is more than just a series of events; it’s a CALL TO ACTION for everyone who cares about the future of our city, state, country, and our planet. Whether you’re attending expert panels, engaging in hands-on workshops, or connecting with local organizations and the people working hard to make a difference in our warming world, your participation matters.

This is our moment, your moment, to shape a more resilient, sustainable world from right here in Miami, ground zero in America’s climate change battle. So please plan to join me, mark your calendars, bring your ideas, and be part of the change.

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