World · North America · 2 hrs ago
Doctor says children face greater health risks from climate change
At a youth-led climate trial in Vancouver, 15 young people are challenging federal legislation they say allows Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions to keep worsening.
Child psychiatrist and pediatrician Elizabeth Pinsky told the court that children face greater health risks from heat, air pollution and tick-borne illness because of how their bodies develop.
She also described climate-linked anxiety and grief, including distress when familiar places change, and said young people face these hazards for more of their lives.
The plaintiffs argue that Canada should be held legally accountable for its role in worsening the climate crisis; the case is not about whether climate change exists, but whether the government has a constitutional duty to stop making it worse.
Another expert told the court that Canada could shift to renewable energy by 2050, and that doing so is technically and economically feasible, though social and political obstacles remain.
Pinsky is set to be cross-examined by government lawyers on Friday.
Dr. Elizabeth Pinsky told Canada’s Federal Court that children face heightened health risks from climate change.
She cited heat, air pollution, tick-borne illness, anxiety and depression among the risks.
Pinsky is testifying for 15 young plaintiffs in Canada’s first youth-led climate trial.
The plaintiffs argue that federal legislation violates their constitutional rights by continuing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Pinsky said that stopping fossil fuel use and halting climate change are the only way to fully protect children from climate harms.
- Who
- Dr. Elizabeth Pinsky, a child psychiatrist and pediatrician, testified for 15 young plaintiffs.
- What
- She described children’s heightened health risks from climate change during a constitutional trial over federal legislation.
- When
- Thursday; the article was published on 2026-10-30.
- Where
- Federal Court in Vancouver, Canada.
- Why
- The plaintiffs argue that federal legislation violates their constitutional rights by continuing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Plaintiffs’ lawyer Catherine Boies Parker told the court the case was not about whether climate change exists, but whether the government is constitutionally required to stop worsening it.
Pinsky testified about children’s health risks from climate change, and Mark Jacobson testified that Canada could technically and economically shift to full renewable energy by 2050.
Pinsky was scheduled to be cross-examined by Ottawa’s lawyers.
- Plaintiffs
- 15 young people
- Court
- Federal Court in Vancouver
- Witness
- Dr. Elizabeth Pinsky, child psychiatrist and pediatrician
- Renewable energy target
- Jacobson said a full transition in Canada is possible by 2050
- Air pollution and energy
- Jacobson said electrifying everything and using renewable electricity could mean 60 per cent less energy in Canada
What people are saying
There’s just no question left in the medical literature about whether that’s true.
The plaintiffs are asking this court to hold Canada legally accountable for its role in continuing and worsening the climate crisis that is causing harm.
Whether it actually does it by 2050 is more of a social and political question.