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In Their Own Words: Plaintiffs & Their Lawyers Speak About Youth Climate Cases, Part 2 – La Rose v Canada
January 31 @ 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Free
The Centre for Law and the Environment’s four-part series, In Their Own Words: Plaintiffs and Their Lawyers Speak About Leading Youth Climate Cases, covers four leading cases from Canada and the US in which youth are demanding climate accountability and action from their government. Each session in the series will delve into a particular case and attendees will get to learn about the case from one of the youth plaintiffs and one of their lawyers. The speakers will join virtually. Audience can join the session in person at Allard Hall (with free lunch included) or join the webinar virtually.
About La Rose v. His Majesty the King in Right of Canada
In October 2019, fifteen youth plaintiffs from across Canada filed the La Rose lawsuit, claiming that the federal government of Canada is contributing to climate change. The case argues that the youth are already being harmed by climate change and the federal government is violating their rights to life, liberty, and security of the person under section 7 of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for failing to protect essential public trust resources. The youth plaintiffs also allege that Canada’s conduct violates their right to equality under section 15 of the Charter because youth are disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change. Moreover, they also claim that the public trust doctrine is part of Canadian common law and that the federal government is violating its duty to safeguard the atmosphere as a public trust.
The lawsuit asks the Federal Court of Canada to declare that the government’s conduct violates the Charter and the government’s common law public trust duties, and to order the government to prepare and implement a climate recovery plan to reduce Canada’s GHG emissions and decarbonize Canada’s energy system in line with what scientists say is necessary to stabilize the climate system and protect the rights of youth.
In December, 2023, the Federal Court of Appeal issued a landmark ruling allowing the case to proceed to trial, albeit on a narrower basis restricted section 7 of the Charter.
Please register to attend in person at Allard Hall or via Zoom.
About the Speakers
