Zenbird Editorial TeamThe Youth Climate Lawsuit Support Project Kyoto Executive Team will host a hybrid event on November 1 to build public support for Japan’s Youth Climate Lawsuit. The event “Voices to Change the Future, Here and Now – Considering the Power of Climate Litigation with Youth” will feature direct testimony from the young plaintiffs and their legal counsel.
The lawsuit was filed in Nagoya District Court in August 2024 by 16 plaintiffs in their teens and twenties from across Japan. It targets the country’s major electric power companies, demanding they implement emissions reduction plans consistent with the scientifically advised 1.5°C global warming limit. This legal action is part of a growing global trend where citizens use litigation as a tool to demand more robust climate policies from governments and corporations.
The event organising team stated its motivation is to support the youth climate lawsuit with the power of citizens. It is one of the efforts to educate the public on the significance of climate litigation and explore pathways for social change.
The session will include a presentation on the legal foundations and latest developments in climate litigation by Mie Asaoka, co-representative of the lawsuit’s legal team. Following this, plaintiffs Raina Horinouchi, Ryota Yokoyama and Katrin Miyazawa will share their personal motivations in a session titled “For Us to Live Tomorrow.” The event will conclude with a Q&A and discussion session designed to explore how citizens can collectively support the legal challenge.
The event is free to attend, both in person at the TKP Kyoto Shijo Conference Center and online, with pre-registration requested on their website.
[Reference] Kiko Network Event (Japanese)
