Global Warning: Children's Right to be Heard in Global Climate Change Negotiations
December 8, 2009 - Plan International
"Today, the world is really polluted and this is the fault of humans. Without noticing, we are destroying nature, burning the forests, polluting the rivers, the lagoons and the air. We could change this. It is up to us to keep our environment clean and healthy."
Ana Caroline, 13yrs, from Sao Luis do Maranhao, Brazil
The changing climate and the ways that decisions are being made to tackle climate change are both having an impact on children's futures like never before. Since the Bali COP in 2007, adults have been taking part in the extensive political negotiations for the new global agreement on climate change. But while adults are negotiating away the viability of the world we will live in, the next generation, who will bear the brunt of the consequences of climate change, is not being granted a place at the negotiating table.
Intergenerational justice calls for climate change decisions to ensure not only that the rights of future generations are fulfilled, but also that its decision-making process includes the views of children.
Climate change decision makers need to ensure not only that the rights of future generations are fulfilled, but also that its decision making process includes the views of children.
Plan's new publication, Global Warning: Children's Right to be Heard in Global Climate Change Negotiations explores rights, value and opportunity in different kinds of young people's engagement, and will be distributed by Plan at the COP15 Copenhagen summit.
Download Global Warning: Children's Rights to be Heard in Global Climate Change Negotiations
