President Obama has a once in a lifetime opportunity to protect our environment by putting into place measures to prevent and counteract climate change. But he needs to do it now.
In 2015 twenty-one youth filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government alleging "that, in causing climate change, the federal government has violated the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, property, as well as failed to protect essential public trust resources." On November 10, 2016 a judge in Eugene, Oregon denied motions (from the fossil fuel industry) to dismiss this case and it is going to trial.
To leave a legacy, President Obama needs to settle with the plaintiffs, and include strict environmental and climate protection policy to be followed by future administrations.