Children have their climate summit too!

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A boy takes the floor during a plenary session of the children's climate summit. © UNICEF Belgium

UNICEF Belgium organised the first-ever national Children's Climate Summit. Because the climate crisis is just as much a children's rights crisis and children have the right to have their say. 'We are the residents of tomorrow and we want some inspiring heads of state.'

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Climate action

Based on the climate measures currently underway worldwide, we are heading for a warming of 2.5°C to 2.9°C. Time is running out for much stronger action to limit warming to 1.5°C to 2°C. No matter what, the world will look completely different in 10, 20, 30 years. Regardless, our children will face fiercer weather extremes in their adult lives.

Right to be heard

'But even today, the climate crisis is just as much a children's rights crisis,’ says Christèle Devos, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Belgium. 'Around the world, climate disruption is already threatening children's rights to education, to proper health care, to food and so on. Progress on child welfare risks being reversed. Children are also far more physically vulnerable to the effects of climate disruption.'

Precisely because children are such closely involved parties, they have the right to have their say and be heard. The 'General Comment 26' in the Children's Rights Convention explicitly links children's rights on the one hand and climate disruption and the environment on the other. The closing text for COP27 – last year's UN climate summit – also recognises for the first time the role of children in the climate process. Moreover, in 2022, Belgium signed the 'Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action', which promises to support children's participation in the climate process.

Minister Caroline Gennez participates in a workshop with the children. © UNICEF Belgium

Children's climate summit with Ministers

High time to make good on that promise, they thought at UNICEF Belgium. With the support of our Directorate General for Development Cooperation, it organised a genuine 'Children's Climate Summit' on 13 November 2023. Over 110 children between the ages of 10 and 12 from 19 different schools, children's councils or organisations gathered for this purpose at the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Brussels.

And they did not do so alone. Minister for Development Cooperation Caroline Gennez and Minister for Climate and Environment Zakia Khattabi were also present. Alongside a number of youth representatives, climate experts and policy-makers who are members of the Belgian delegation at COP28 in Dubai.

'We are the residents of tomorrow'

In six workshops on various themes, the children presented their ideas and engaged in discussions with the climate experts. The children expressed a clear concern about their future, but also saw a great many ways to address the problem. These included 'travelling  differently' with more emphasis on public transport and 'consuming differently' with less waste, more second-hand and recycling, and more local production.

The children also saw an important role for more trees and green spaces and felt that we should phase out all fossil energy. It is also essential for us to unite in the battle against climate disruption.

'We are the residents of tomorrow, let us do the talking,' was one of statements heard. Or again, 'We want inspiring heads of state who will change their way of life and lead us by example. It's not just us and our families who will have to make an effort.'

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Overview of the children's recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (climate mitigation)

Overview of the children's recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (climate mitigation). © UNICEF Belgium

Recommendations to COP28

Of course, the climate issue is a rather technical one. But the children did not come to their climate summit unprepared. Beforehand, they had thoroughly discussed the topic in class. UNICEF Belgium had prepared a special handbook for this purpose. Even classes that could not participate in the Children's Climate Summit were encouraged to share their action points anyway.

The youth representatives, climate experts and policy-makers in attendance took a series of recommendations to COP28 in Dubai. In addition, all the participants will receive a child-friendly report on this COP, including how children's voices were addressed.