Supporters rally as historic youth-led climate trial begins in Vancouver - CBC

Julius Frauenheim, co-president of the UBC Environmental Policy Association, leads a rally in support of a youth-led climate trial in Vancouver on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (CBC News)Social SharingCrowds of supporters gathered outside the Federal Court building in Vancouver on Monday in solidarity with plaintiffs in Canada's first youth-led climate trial.

Filed in 2019, the case sees 15 young people from across Canada challenge the federal government's actions and failure to adequately address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, arguing that these violate their constitutional rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Julius Frauenheim, co-president of the UBC Environmental Policy Association, was among the crowds gathered to show support.

He said Canada has been "backsliding" in its commitment to addressing climate change.

"This trial is important because it might set a precedent for the future," he said.

"It's a historic trial because it's the first youth-led climate trial in Canada, and it's also a movement that all of us who care about the planet and want to see real transformative change can get behind."

Kira Young, one of the plaintiffs in the trial from Yellowknife, says that the youth who filed the case believe that their Constitutional rights have been breached. (Shawn Foss/CBC)

Kira Young, one of the plaintiffs in the case, argued the trial sent a message that youths' stories and lived experiences were powerful and could make a change.

"The Constitution guarantees our right to life, liberty and security, and that right has been violated," she told CBC News.

"So we're bringing this to the court because we believe in justice and because ... we believe that there's a better way forward."

Young testified for 75 minutes on Monday, answering questions from both her lawyers and those of the federal government.

The plaintiffs in the case allege the federal government's keystone climate law, the Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, puts the country on an emissions trajectory that is inconsistent with a safe and livable future.

Catherine Boies Parker, counsel for the plaintiffs, told the court that the case hinges not on whether climate change is real, but on whether the government is "constitutionally required to stop making it worse."

Boies Parker described climate change as the "greatest threat to personal security that humans have ever faced" and noted that while Canada has been aware of its impacts for nearly four decades, it has repeatedly failed to meet both international commitments and its own, inadequate, GHG reduction targets.

She argued that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms must offer youth "a degree of protections" from their own government's actions.

Young Sask. climate activist part of upcoming trial against federal government

She told the court that the impacts of climate change have worsened in the seven years since the case was filed, leading to floods, fires and extreme weather that have caused "physical and psychological harm," including displacement, respiratory illnesses and climate anxiety.

The trial is slated to continue into late November, with closing arguments expected in February.

The case was initially dismissed by the Federal Court, but was later sent back for a full hearing by the Federal Court of Appeal.

Outside the court, Debbie Clelland with climate action non-profit Possible by Design, said she hoped the court case would help fight apathy and show that positive change is possible.

"Hope is so hard when things aren't going in the direction we need them to," she said.

"So to shift things towards the direction we need is going to make such a difference to that personal and community agency."