Children and young individuals from Nigeria and 13 other countries around the globe are urging for increased attention to climate education, enhanced funding for climate-resilient infrastructure, and a platform for their voices to be heard at the annual climate conference, COP28, happening in Dubai, UAE.
These calls were made during national ‘COP simulations organized by Save the Children and its partners, where young people from various countries conveyed their perspectives to key decision-makers ahead of the COP28 event, scheduled from November 30 to December 12.
Children expressed dismay at the neglect of their concerns in the climate change agenda and called for inclusivity in the climate emergency political discourse.
During the simulations, many children appealed to their governments to incorporate climate education into the national curriculum, providing them with knowledge about climate change, its impacts, and potential solutions. They also sought improved infrastructure to enhance the safety of school buildings and communities.
In Rwanda, children lamented floods and mudslides preventing them from attending school or accessing health facilities. They emphasized the need for practical solutions to address these challenges.
In Zambia, extreme weather events like droughts have hindered children’s access to education, compelling them to search for water during such periods. This disruption to learning due to extreme weather events affects approximately 40 million children annually, a number expected to rise with the intensification and frequency of such events due to climate change.
Zambian children urged their delegation to safeguard their access to water services by investing in solutions like drilling boreholes and water harvesting. They also emphasized the necessity for sustainable infrastructure capable of withstanding floods and droughts.
Children in Guatemala emphasized the importance of their voices, stating, “Our voice is important, listen to us. We want to ask the authorities to seriously think about the value we have as children, and the future we deserve.”
In Nigeria, children called for investments in new facilities with flood-resistant materials, adequate drainage systems, and alternative energy sources.
Save the Children CEO, Inger Ashing, highlighted the urgency of recognizing the climate crisis as a child rights crisis. The organization is urging world leaders at COP28, especially those from high-income countries, to increase climate finance, directing support to children and families for climate adaptation and addressing losses and damages.
Save the Children emphasized the need to prioritize children’s rights in climate negotiations, policies, and financing at all levels. Children are viewed as key agents of change, and governments are urged to urgently limit temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
A recent report by Save the Children and partners revealed that only 2.4 percent of climate finance from key global climate funds sufficiently considers children. The organization is pushing for increased efforts to bridge these gaps.
Children highlighted the cascading impacts of climate change on their families, affecting crops, sources of income, food security, and overall health. In Madagascar, children spoke of parents struggling to feed them due to destroyed crops and insufficient funds for education or healthcare. Zambian children noted the stress on adults when climate-related challenges impact their crops and livelihoods.
In Guatemala, children called on authorities to support projects generating agricultural production to combat hunger and malnutrition, emphasizing the importance of increasing food security. The voices of these children underscore the critical role they play in advocating for a sustainable and resilient future.
