The American Parents Coalition (APC) has raised serious concerns about the climate advocacy group Our Children’s Trust (OCT), accusing it of emotionally manipulating children through lawsuits and curriculum materials to further its climate agenda. The watchdog group released its findings via its ‘The Lookout’ parental notification system, alleging that OCT’s initiatives are not just about addressing climate issues but are part of a broader strategy to shape young minds and challenge parental authority.
In addition to its legal actions, such as the recent Lighthiser v. Trump case, OCT is also promoting educational resources that the APC claims are designed to instill climate-related anxiety in children. The APC’s Executive Director, Alleigh Marré, criticized OCT’s methods, stating that the group’s focus on undermining parental authority and targeting young minds has now infiltrated the climate movement. While OCT denies these claims, asserting it equips young people with the knowledge and tools to engage in civic life, APC insists that such tactics are harmful and counterproductive.
OCT’s curriculum materials, which APC claims are designed to indoctrinate children into a particular set of beliefs about the environment, include thought exercises that the watchdog group says imply parents are not offering adequate protection for children. For example, one classroom exercise that APC highlighted asked students: