Technologies
Gen Z Prevailed in a Climate Lawsuit. More Youth Trials Are on the Way
Young people fighting for a better future for the planet are beginning to discover that the law is on their side.

For two weeks in June, a Montana court heard from young people – 16 in total, ages 5 to 22 – and their families about the toll of extreme weather events caused by climate change on their health and other aspects of their lives.
They argued that the state of Montana had violated their constitutional rights to, among other things, a clean and healthful environment, by supporting a fossil fuel energy system and by failing to take action that would protect them against the harmful effects of climate change.
On Monday, after a two-month wait, they learned that they’d won.
In a landmark victory, Judge Kathy Seeley ruled in their favor, concluding in a 103-page decision that they’d proved significant injuries had occurred. Not only that, the decision in Held v. Montana said the case, launched in 2020, had shown that the Montana state government had been instrumental in causing these injuries and would be required to make changes to its conduct.
It’s a ruling that will likely have repercussions well beyond Montana’s state lines.
«We set the precedent not only for the United States, but for the world,» said 18-year-old Kian Tanner from Bigfork, Montana, in a statement.
It’s also another sign that Generation Z is finding new and forceful ways to make itself heard on climate issues. Gen Zers are using legal systems in the US and other countries to try to stem the damage being done by the burning of fossil fuels and the resulting greenhouse gases and to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Most young people are encouraged to avoid brushes with the legal system, but the plaintiffs in Montana, underpinned by legal team Our Children’s Trust, join a growing number of youth from around the world who are wielding the law to pressure governments into taking more radical action on climate.
Now that we’re regularly facing the impacts of human-caused climate change in our daily lives in the form of extreme weather events or breathing in smoke from forest fires, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or powerless. But there are things we can do: recycle, cut down on car use, install solar panels and heat pumps, vote eco-friendly and support environmental campaigns. And litigate.
The Montana plaintiffs didn’t seek financial damages for the harms they’ve suffered due to climate change. Instead they wanted to change the current system – they sued over a law that prohibited the state from considering greenhouse gas emissions or climate change impacts when greenlighting fossil fuel projects.
«Young people are turning to court because they know that this isn’t about just the consumer choices that people make,» said Andrea Rodgers, senior litigation attorney at Our Children’s Trust, in an interview ahead of the verdict being issued. «This is about how we get energy, how we transfer goods, those kinds of systemic issues that governments really control.»
Monday’s decision is a game-changer, said Julia Olson, chief legal counsel and executive director with Our Children’s Trust, in a statement. «More rulings like this will certainly come.»
Here’s a look at some other prominent climate cases being driven by young people.
Kids vs. climate change
Way back in 2015, 21 young people filed a constitutional climate lawsuit against the federal government. They asserted that through government actions that cause climate change, it has violated the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty and property.
Known as Juliana v. The United States, the federal case (also backed by Our Children’s Trust) was delayed by opposition from the Department of Justice under the Trump administration. Then, in June of this year, US District Court Judge Ann Aiken ruled that it can proceed to trial. Now the organizations supporting the young plaintiffs are asking the Biden administration not to delay the trial further.
«It’s long past time for the Department of Justice to end its opposition to the Juliana plaintiffs and youth climate justice,» said Zanagee Artis, founder and executive director of youth activist nonprofit Zero Hour. «Young Americans have the right to be heard by our nation’s courts, the branch of our government that has a duty to protect our constitutional right to a livable planet.»
For many years, courts were reluctant to hear and decide the merits of climate cases, said Rodgers. Just getting the Montana case to trial was a victory that signified «a real moment of change,» she added, that’s paved the way for trials to proceed both in the Juliana case and in another case that Our Children’s Trust is pursuing, in Hawaii.
Rodgers says the courts are now opening their doors to American youth because of the increasingly real and visceral impacts of climate change. «That does make a difference,» she said, «because it takes the injuries that the youth are experiencing … from being hypothetical to being real and tangible.»
Youth victories in and out of court
In the climate justice movement, young activists are key players in moving the needle on key issues, through protests, direct action and dialogues with politicians. But the combination of youth activism and legal action can be an especially potent mix.
In 2018, Indigenous climate activist and environmental engineer Yurshell Rodriguez, now 28, was one of 25 young people who successfully sued the government of Colombia for failing to reduce deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, thereby threatening their fundamental rights to a healthy environment, life, health, food and water. The lawsuit resulted in an intergenerational pact that meant the government had to consult with the plaintiffs, the affected communities and scientists to reduce deforestation in the Amazon.
«Activism sends a powerful message that the younger generation refuses to inherit a world plagued by environmental degradation and the consequences of inaction,» Rodriguez said in an interview. «But through lawsuits, we are raising awareness, mobilizing public support and challenging the status quo, compelling governments to prioritize sustainable policies, reduce carbon emissions and protect the planet for future generations.»

Young plaintiffs shouldn’t get discouraged if a judge rules against them, Rodriguez says – the awareness and public support a legal case can drive is also a positive result, which can in turn force the government’s hand.
In Europe in 2021, the People’s Climate Case, brought by 10 families including their children, was ultimately ruled inadmissible on a technicality by the Court of Justice of the European Union, but it spurred the EU to ramp up its fossil fuel reduction targets. «It’s all about kind of embarrassing the government into action,» said British human rights barrister Marc Willers.
There are always benefits to having young people tell their stories in open court alongside expert evidence and see states fail to defend their inaction, says Rodgers. «Even though there have been defeats and decisions that we consider to be unfavorable, it is still moving the ball forward.»
How to sue your government
No matter your age, it can be a «daunting prospect» to take on the state, even more so a fossil fuel giant that will throw everything it has at fighting your claim and attempting to discredit you, said Willers, who’s worked on a number of high-profile international environmental cases.
To bring a legal case, you’re going to need the support of sympathetic lawyers and an NGO or grassroots climate organization that knows the system and provides the necessary support, Willers said. He also advises forming a group, as the young people in the Montana and Juliana cases did, rather than going it alone, and finding a legal team that’s willing to spend time getting to understand your perspective.
In his work, Willers said, he’s found there are «real benefits to having young people involved in the litigation.» Children and youth can bring energy, positivity and unique viewpoints into the courtroom as representations of the future generations inheriting the Earth. They’re also often more knowledgeable about the issues than people give them credit for.

Young people often have a sophisticated understanding of the science combined with a sense of frustration and impatience, said Rodgers. She cited the example of a climate activist who achieved worldwide renown in her teens. «Greta Thunberg probably expresses that most prominently, but she’s simply expressing the feelings of youth universally, in my experience.»
Mounting global pressure
There’s no sign of youth-led climate litigation slowing down, what with legal wins in Colombia and Montana; the first lawsuit involving individuals versus the federal government underway in the US; and a major trial due to kick off in France this September based on six children and young adults suing 32 European countries.
As in the Montana case, the plaintiffs in that European case, all from Portugal, aren’t seeking financial damages – even though they’re entitled to. Instead, they’re pursuing a legally binding decision from the European Court of Human Rights that would require the countries to take action against climate change.
The more these cases occur around the world, the more they build momentum and make the voices of youth harder to ignore, said Rodgers. «What’s really cool is seeing these young people inspiring one another and building off of one another’s work.»
Such cases are strengthened by the fast-evolving field of attribution science, which can increasingly draw direct lines between specific emissions and the harms they’re causing. Lawsuits lodged by individuals against companies or institutions will only continue to get stronger and more frequent as our understanding of the science of climate change improves, Willers predicts.
When taking the legal route, progress can be painfully slow, as the young people in the now 8-year-old Juliana case have discovered. Some of them are no longer the kids they were at the time the suit was filed. But with children more aware than ever of growing up in a world threatened by climate change, there will be no shortage of young people willing to fight for their rights.
Rodriguez, who’s been there herself, is supportive of other young people considering demanding accountability and pushing for new measures through legal action. She encourages them to see themselves as «custodians of the future» who can leverage their voices and rights to hold those in power responsible for safeguarding the environment.
«To all the young people I will just say: Our actions inspire hope and serve as a reminder that collective efforts are essential in tackling the complex challenges of this climate crisis,» she says. «Be the change you want to see.»
Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Monday, April 7
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 7.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword has a kind of meta clue, with 3-Down, which asks for a word describing someone who’s «in need of a hint.» You might be in need of a few hints — I found the clue for 5-Across especially oddly worded and tough to decipher. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Price to pay
Answer: COST
5A clue: The five unique letters of THE AREA HERE, fittingly
Answer: EARTH
6A clue: Uncomfortable thing to witness a couple do in public
Answer: ARGUE
7A clue: Gwen ___, Spider-Woman’s alter ego in the «Spider-Verse» movies
Answer: STACY
8A clue: Give a tug
Answer: YANK
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Magna ___
Answer: CARTA
2D clue: Instrument played at the ballpark
Answer: ORGAN
3D clue: In need of a hint
Answer: STUCK
4D clue: Nonbinary pronoun
Answer: THEY
5D clue: Difficulty level for a newbie gamer
Answer: EASY
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
Technologies
Best Family Phone Plans for 2025
Switching phone plans can be overwhelming. We’ve filtered out the noise and bold claims. Here are our top family phone plan picks from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.
If you’re looking for a new family phone plan, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Each carrier has its own selection of plans with a host of perks and fine print. There are also upgrade deals to consider and combing through features you actually need. Many family plans come with perks like free Netflix, extra hotspot data or international roaming making comparing plans an absolute headache. But we’ve picked the best plans for three or more lines from T-Mobile and Verizon (though we didn’t pick any from AT&T). Whether you want to upgrade phones or just find the best deal, we found the best family phone plans for you.
Best family phone plans for 2025
Best family plan for value
Pros
- T-Mobile’s 5G network, plans includes 50GB of regular high-speed data in the US as well as the ability to use phones as a hotspot
Cons
- Hotspot is limited to «3G speeds»
- Canada and Mexico data are at even slower «2G» speeds
- The Essentials Saver plan isn’t always easy to find and everyone needs to be on the same plan
Because T-Mobile restructured its cheapest plans, this has gotten a bit more complicated. As mentioned above, both T-Mobile Essentials and Essentials Saver include unlimited talk, text and data for all the carrier’s base unlimited plans, including 5G access.
In short, if you need two lines, Essentials Saver is your best pick, while those looking for three or more lines may want to go with regular Essentials.
Two lines of Essentials Saver run $80 a month, while a similar offering from Verizon costs $110 a month, and a similar deal from AT&T runs $122 a month. Three lines will also run $90 at T-Mobile for its regular Essentials thanks to a promotion, compared with $120 at Verizon (for Unlimited Welcome) and $138 at AT&T (for Unlimited Starter SL). The four-line option is now back to $100 at T-Mobile thanks to some promotions and is a bit cheaper compared with $120 at Verizon and $144 at AT&T.
Make sure to go with T-Mobile’s «Essentials 4 Line Offer» to get the four lines for $100 per month deal and not the regular Essentials (which is $105 per month).
If you’re comparing prices on multiple carriers’ websites, keep in mind that Verizon’s pricing by default factors in a switching promotional discount of $180 over three years for Unlimited Welcome, or $540 if you’re getting Unlimited Plus. In either case, it’s assuming you aren’t also getting a new phone when you switch.
To get the real numbers of Verizon’s plans make sure to add $5 a line to its Welcome prices and $15 a line for Plus. Our pricing above removes the BYOD device credit. Our pricing here also assumes no perks from Verizon.
As for T-Mobile, its prices also come with a couple of caveats: Unlike the carrier’s Go5G or Magenta plans, taxes and fees aren’t included in any of these Essentials prices, making the final total a little higher. All the deals also require that you set up AutoPay and paperless billing.
As mentioned, you may need to click «see more plans» on T-Mobile’s site to get this option to appear.
Best plan for perks
Pros
- Verizon’s 4G LTE network is a strong backbone
- You can still get perks
- You can mix and match plans
Cons
- No access to Verizon’s fastest 5G networks
- No set amount of high-speed data
- No hotspot data
- Lower savings on upgrades to new devices
- Verizon makes the pricing complicated on its website
This is a bit more complicated. Verizon used to be our pick with its Play More plan that bundled in the Disney bundle (ad-free Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu with ads) and services like Google Play Pass or Apple Arcade into the plan’s sticker price.
Now the carrier has updated its wireless plans to remove perks like the Disney bundle or Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass from being automatically included with its service. Even with its new plans, it’s still our pick for best perks, but this will require a bit more explanation.
Instead of automatically putting services in, it now offers a variety of perks at $10 a month per perk, allowing you to pick and choose what you want. It also now allows its lower-cost plan, known as Unlimited Welcome, to participate.
Unlimited Welcome runs $65 a month for one line or $120 a month for four lines. You get unlimited talk, text and data, but you don’t get access to Verizon’s fastest 5G networks (what it calls «5G Ultra Wideband») or hotspot data. For that, you will need to step up to its pricier Unlimited Plus plan ($80 for one line, $180 for four lines).
Both the Welcome and Plus plans include the ability to add perks at that $10 per month rate. This includes the Disney Bundle (normally $15 a month), Apple One individual (normally around $17 a month), Apple Music Family (which can be shared with five people and normally runs $17 a month) and Walmart Plus (normally $13 a month but also includes Paramount Plus Essential).
There are also other perks including an additional 100GB of hotspot data (normally $45 a month), 2TB of Verizon’s cloud storage (normally $15 a month), three days of international data (what the carrier calls TravelPass, normally $10 a day).
All perks can be turned on or off at will, and you could forgo them entirely. You can even go with multiple perks on a single line.
Whether this makes sense for your situation may require some time with a spreadsheet going through what services work for you and what you’re willing to pay for them. The savings could add up if you’re paying for some of these services directly, but it also could be more expensive than your existing plan.
It’s also worth mentioning that Verizon allows you to «mix and match» lines, so if not everyone needs the faster 5G connectivity, they could be on Unlimited Welcome, while the one who does can go on Unlimited Plus.
AT&T allows something similar with its unlimited plans, but at the moment it no longer offers any streaming perks. To get T-Mobile’s perks, everyone has to be on the same plan.
If you wanted a cheaper way to save on one or two services like the Disney bundle, you could have four lines for $120 a month, add the Disney perk for $10 and pay $130 a month for the whole package.
Oh, and you can also combine these plans with Verizon’s other discounts for teachers, nurses, military and first responders to save a bit more.
Runner-up for perks
Pros
- T-Mobile has a strong 5G network
- Taxes and fees are included in the sticker price
- Solid perks include Netflix and international data
Cons
- Magenta plans are harder to find on T-Mobile’s website
- The best new device upgrade deals are limited to pricier options like Go5G Plus or Go5G Next
T-Mobile’s new plans are also a bit complicated. For most people, T-Mobile’s Magenta and Magenta Max options are the better pick when it comes to looking for perks for one or two lines. They’re cheaper than the new Go5G options and have most of the same features, except with a cheaper monthly rate ($70 for one line on Magenta, $120 for two lines; $85 for one line on Magenta Max, $140 for two lines).
You get less hotspot and international data with a Magenta plan compared to a Go5G option, and Magenta Max users also don’t get the same ability to upgrade to a new device after two years while taking advantage of T-Mobile’s «new customer» deals.
Thanks to T-Mobile offering a free third line on its Go5G options, those plans become cheaper and a better value compared to the Magentas if you need three or more lines.
Among the benefits of Magenta and Go5G ($75 a month for one line, $155 a month for four lines) are unlimited international data (albeit at slow «2G speeds») when traveling in over 210 countries, an hour of in-flight Wi-Fi on several airlines, T-Mobile Tuesdays weekly giveaways, the bundling of Netflix’s Standard with Ads plan (which is $7 a month) and six free months of Apple TV Plus.
Its pricier Magenta Max and Go5G Plus ($90 a month for one line, $185 a month for four lines) plans keep the Netflix Standard with Ads plan, include a full subscription to Apple TV Plus, ups the hotspot data from 15GB on Go5G to 50GB per month on Go5G Plus, adds 5GB of high-speed international data and gives you unlimited Wi-Fi on a host of flights including those from American, Alaska Airlines, Delta and United. Go5G Plus also has 15GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico, compared to 10GB on Go5G and 5GB on Magenta and Magenta Max.
Unlike its Essentials plans discussed earlier, T-Mobile also includes taxes and fees with the pricing of its Magenta and Go5G plans.
T-Mobile Essentials iPhone 16 offer
Pros
- T-Mobile’s 5G network and iPhone 16 phones for each line
- Plans include 50GB of regular high-speed data in the US and the ability to use phones as a hotspot
Cons
- Hotspot is limited to «3G speeds»
- Canada and Mexico data are at even slower «2G» speeds
- The deal isn’t always easy to find
- Everyone needs to be on same plan
- Taxes and fees aren’t included, unlike other T-Mobile plans
Note: You need to switch to T-Mobile and have an eligible trade-in.
T-Mobile’s switcher offer is once again very tempting if you’re looking to switch to the carrier and need new devices. You get four lines of its Essentials plan and four new iPhone 16 models for $100 monthly. You can find it by scrolling down the carrier’s Apple deals page.
As always, there is some fine print to be aware of. Here is what that is.
Like other carriers, you need to commit to being with T-Mobile for 24 months (which is better than AT&T and Verizon’s respective 36-month installment plans). Leaving early loses you the credits and leaves you on the hook for the balance owed. You must also have at least four lines and trade in an iPhone 11 Pro or newer to get the full value for the deal. Older phones, like an iPhone 6 or 7, will only get you partial credit off an iPhone 16 ($415 off per line).
T-Mobile’s Essentials plan also doesn’t include perks like Netflix or bundling in taxes and fees. You also will be on the hook for $35 a line «device connection» charges. These are one-time fees the carrier charges as part of activation. They’re also fairly standard across the major carriers.
This is still a good deal, particularly if you have three- or four-year-old iPhones and are already considering switching. Each iPhone 16 retails for $830 per device most providers won’t give that type of credit for an iPhone 12.
Verizon has its own, similar free iPhone offer, but that deal gives you the iPhone 15 instead of the iPhone 16. AT&T has no four-line deal that bundles in free iPhones.
Verizon iPhone 15 Unlimited Welcome deal
Pros
- Verizon’s 4G LTE network is a strong backbone
- You can still get perks
- You can mix and match plans
- Don’t need to trade in an old phone
Cons
- No access to Verizon’s fastest 5G networks
- No set amount of high-speed data
- No hotspot data
- Lower savings on upgrades to new devices later on
- Online only
Note: You need to open four new lines on Verizon.
Verizon’s offer doesn’t give the latest iPhone to new users, its deal isn’t a bad one if you are looking to switch providers and need a few upgrades.
The deal itself: Sign up for four new lines on Verizon’s Unlimited Welcome plan and you get four 128GB iPhone 15 for $120 a month. All the lines need to be new, the deal is online only, and you need to set up automatic payments and paper-free billing. Taxes and fees are also not included, but on the plus side, you don’t need to trade in any older device to get the offer.
Similar to other free device offers, this deal will get you monthly bill credits towards the cost of the iPhones dished out over 36 months. If you leave Verizon early, you will be on the hook for whatever balance is still owed.
As mentioned above, Unlimited Welcome is Verizon’s new base plan and includes unlimited talk, text and data, but you don’t get access to Verizon’s fastest 5G networks (what it calls «5G Ultra Wideband») or hotspot data. You can also add perks like The Disney Bundle or Apple One for $10 a month, per perk.
Verizon, like other carriers, has other device deals for those switching to its pricier Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate options, and it does let you «mix and match» plans where some lines can be on the cheaper Welcome and others on the pricier plans.
Factors to consider: Know your area
As we covered in our other wireless guides, to get the best deal you need to make sure you have the coverage that you need. This makes it hard to give a blanket recommendation of any one carrier. T-Mobile’s service in New York may be excellent, but if you’re in rural Iowa, Verizon is more reliable.
Your mileage may vary, but the good news is that these networks are growing and improving all the time, particularly as the three major players race to blanket the US with 5G. It’s quite possible that you left a network complaining about its sparse service a decade ago, but now it’s beefed itself up because of that race to acquire customers.
If you know any friends or family in your area that already use the carrier you’re considering, ask about their experience. You could also go to a carrier’s store and see if they offer any free ways to try out the service before switching over, such as T-Mobile’s Network Pass. Verizon offers a similar 30-day «Test Drive» program, while AT&T has recently introduced its own 30-day eSIM free trial option for sampling its network.
How we test
Picking a wireless plan and carrier is a very individualized process. What works for you and your family’s needs may be vastly different from your friends or neighbors. Even geographically, some areas have better AT&T coverage while others work best on Verizon or T-Mobile (and vice versa). The picks we make are based on over a decade of covering and evaluating wireless carriers, their offerings and overall performance.
In particular, we take into account the following:
1. Coverage
2. Price
3. Value
4. Perks
Coverage
Since all three major providers blanket most of the country with good 4G LTE or 5G, this is largely a toss-up on a macro level and why we recommend a variety of eSIM options for figuring out what works best for you in your particular location so you can best decide what is right for you. Looking at coverage maps on each provider’s website will likely show whether you can get good coverage even if your experience isn’t full bars or the fastest speeds.
This is also why with prepaid plans, we specify which network each prepaid provider uses as they sometimes make that a bit difficult to figure out.
Price/Value
Value is factoring in the total experience you might get, such as how much high-speed data you get and what’s included in the sticker price.
Perks
Perks are add-ons beyond the core components of wireless service (talk, text and data). This could range from bundling in or discounting streaming services to extra hotspot data or the ability to use your phone internationally.
Wireless plan FAQ