CNN's New Day Sunday gave an unchallenged forum to a group of children who are plaintiffs in an environmental lawsuit alleging that the federal government and fossil fuel industry are in "violation of the fundamental constitutional rights of young people and all future generations."
As two of the children and one legal counsel -- Julia Olson of Our Children's Trust -- appeared on the show, among other questions, CNN co-host Christi Paul sympathetically posed: "If you could say one thing to the people listening who have questions about what they're causing in the environment, what would you like to say to them today?"
At 6:47 a.m. ET, after recalling the People's Climate Change March in D.C. from Saturday and President Donald Trump's reaction, Paul brought up the lawsuit:
The people who are ultimately effected by climate change are young people of course. And now some kids -- yes, kids -- are taking legal action to protect their future. And they're doing so with a federal lawsuit. Now, the lawsuit, we should point out, initially targeted the Obama administration, now has taken on a different significance in President Trump's administration, but that lawsuit carrying on into this one.
After asking teenage activist Kelsey Juliana her "reaction" to the demonstration from Saturday, Paul turned to her youngest guest -- Levi Draheim -- and wondered: "Levi, you look like a happy camper today, so I have to believe that you were happy with the rally as well. Help us understand here. What is, Levi, your biggest fear when it comes to the environment right now?"
After Draheim recounted his fears about how global warming might effect his home in Florida, Paul went back to Juliana and followed up:
When you listen to what his concerns are, help people who don't understand maybe what human causes are doing to the environment. Help them understand what we can do to alleviate his fears and to turn things around.
The CNN host then went to Olson and asked her how the lawsuit -- which began during the Obama administration -- was changing after "cutbacks" by the Trump administration. Olson railed against the fossil fuel industry as she began:
Well, this lawsuit is really about five decades of our federal government creating a fossil fuel-based energy system. And that energy system is causing pollution that's changing our climate in really devastating ways. And they've known for 50 years that this would happen.
She then intoned:
And so, while the Trump administration is denying climate change, and making things even worse, this case is really about the historic failure of government and the violation of the fundamental constitutional rights of young people and all future generations.
Paul concluded the interview by going back to Draheim and asking a question similar to one she had already posed earlier about humans contributing to environmental problems:
So, Levi, one last question for you, my friend. If you could say one thing to the people listening who have questions about what they're causing in the environment, what would you like to say to them today?
Below is a transcript of the relevant portions of the April 30 New Day Sunday on CNN:
6:47 a.m. ET
CHRISTI PAUL: You are listening there to the sounds of tens of thousands of activists that have descended on Washington yesterday for the People's Climate March. It was one of many marches across the country where advocates demanded action on global warming. Now, the President, Trump, of course, en route to his rally in Pennsylvania, did have a message for all of them.UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE VOICE: Do you have a message for those rallying for climate change?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: To enjoy the day and the weather.
PAUL: The enjoying the weather -- the day and the weather -- he said. Meanwhile, the people who are ultimately effected by climate change are young people of course. And now some kids -- yes, kids -- are taking legal action to protect their future. And they're doing so with a federal lawsuit. Now, the lawsuit, we should point out, initially targeted the Obama administration, now has taken on a different significance in President Trump's administration, but that lawsuit carrying on into this one.
They took the fight all the way to the steps of the Supreme Court. You see them here. This was last week, and they were among the thousands of people who were at the climate march yesterday. Some of them have gotten up early after all of that, and they are with us this morning. Two of those kids suing the administration -- Kelsey Juliana and Levi Draheim, and their legal counsel from Our Children's Trust, Julia Olson. Thank you all so much for being here. We certainly appreciate it. I wanted to ask you first of all, Kelsey, what was your reaction yesterday to the rally?
[KELSEY JULIANA, PLAINTIFF IN LAWSUIT]
PAUL: Levi, you look like a happy camper today, so I have to believe that you were happy with the rally as well. Help us understand here. What is, Levi, your biggest fear when it comes to the environment right now?
LEVI DRAHEIM, PLAINTIFF IN LAWSUIT: Well, my biggest fear is that if climate change continues -- I live out on a barrier island in Florida -- and there has been lots of dune erosion. And if the dune keeps eroding, then the sea turtles won't have a place to nest. And then that would be a really big problem. And also there's been way more wildfires than there has been normally.
PAUL: Okay, so, Kelsey, when you listen to what his concerns are, help people who don't understand maybe what human causes are doing to the environment. Help them understand what we can do to alleviate his fears and to turn things around.
[JULIANA]
PAUL: So you are taking action -- many of you -- in the form of this lawsuit. Julie, I'd like to bring you into the conversation. Looking at the policy cutbacks and the cutbacks at the EPA specifically, since this is a carryover from the Obama administration now into the Trump administration, has the suit changed in any way based on some of the policy shifts we've seen?
JULIA OLSON, OUR CHILDREN'S TRUST: Well, this lawsuit is really about five decades of our federal government creating a fossil fuel-based energy system. And that energy system is causing pollution that's changing our climate in really devastating ways. And they've known for 50 years that this would happen.
And so, while the Trump administration is denying climate change, and making things even worse, this case is really about the historic failure of government and the violation of the fundamental constitutional rights of young people and all future generations.
PAUL: I only have a couple of seconds left, but how long before you think there may be a ruling on this suit?
[OLSON]
PAUL: So, Levi, one last question for you, my friend. If you could say one thing to the people listening who have questions about what they're causing in the environment, what would you like to say to them today?
DRAHEIM: Well, I'm not exactly sure actually. I mean, one thing that I would like to say is that I'm being inspired by them that that's one of the reasons why I'm standing up for my environment.
PAUL: All righty, well, Julie Olson and Kelsey Juliana and Levi Draheim, we appreciate all of you taking the time to be with us today. Thank you so much.
