Youth & student movements

Finland bans smartphones in schools

Peter Schulte / May 1, 2025

The Finnish Parliament has approved a law restricting the use of mobile devices by pupils at primary and secondary schools. Pupils will need to get special permission from teachers to use their phones to assist them in studies, to take care of personal health-related matters, etc. Research increasingly indicates that excessive smartphone use in children and adolescents can negatively impact their mental and physical health, academic performance, and social development.

Youth wins climate case against U.S. state of Montana in first-of-its-kind legal ruling

Peter Schulte / August 14, 2023

A landmark ruling found that Montana violated young people’s constitutional rights to a “clean and healthful environment,” marking the first time a U.S. court has connected the government’s fossil fuel promotion with harm to youth.

U.N. passes pioneering resolution on national governments’ role in climate action

Peter Schulte / April 5, 2023

The advisory opinion, spearheaded by youth activists from Vanuatu, could impact thousands of lawsuits filed worldwide against governments for their inaction in addressing the crisis.

Activists gathered 500,000 signatures to force Michigan’s legislature to vote on LGBTQ civil rights

Peter Schulte / February 12, 2021

A coalition of 37 organizations have gathered 530,000 signatures to have the state legislature vote on a law that would define “sex” in state anti-discrimination legislation to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

America will have a climate corps once more thanks to new executive order

Peter Schulte / February 11, 2021

Under a newly signed executive order from the White House, a new Civilian Climate Corps is being established to provide “good jobs” for young people in the U.S. and train them for environmentally friendly careers.

2020 voter turnout in the U.S. surpassing 2016 already, especially among young voters

Peter Schulte / November 2, 2020

By last Friday, more citizens had already voted in Texas than in the entire 2016 election. These early statistics show that 2020 could be a record-breaking year for early turnout across the entire country. Amidst the throngs of early voters is a dramatic increase in voter turnout among young voters.

Portuguese youth activists sue 33 countries over climate crisis

Peter Schulte / September 8, 2020

Young activists from Portugal have filed the first climate change case at the European court of human rights in Strasbourg, demanding 33 countries make more ambitious emissions cuts to safeguard their future physical and mental well-being.

Oaxaca bans sale of junk food to children

Peter Schulte / August 10, 2020

Oaxaca is the first state to take the measure in Mexico, which has one of the world’s highest rates of childhood obesity. About 73% of the Mexican population is overweight, compared to one-fifth of the population in 1996, according to a study by OCED.

170,000 young people from 23 countries participate the UN’s Tide Turners Plastic Challenge

Peter Schulte / July 10, 2020

Tide Turners, launched in 2019 by the UN Environment Programme encourages young people to alter their attitude towards plastic consumption and spark behavioral change in their communities.

Millions march worldwide in youth-led climate strike

Peter Schulte / September 20, 2019

An estimated four million protesters in over 150 countries marched in the youth led global climate strike.