‘No Time to Waste…’: Inspiring Children’s Futures to co-host workshop at COY-16 on children and young people’s right to climate justice
There is ‘No Time to Waste’ to empower and protect children and young people’s right to climate justice.
Climate change inherently effects children’s human rights, threatening their present and future. Children across Scotland have told us that climate change and the climate emergency matter to them. Climate justice intersects with multiple human rights issues for children in Scotland, including poverty, food insecurity, physical and mental health, education, and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, children and young people are often absent from the climate decision-making process at all levels, and children’s human rights are not adequately reflected and prioritised in climate action.
The impact of climate change will not be felt equally – with the most vulnerable children bearing the greatest burden of environmental degradation and climate change. Children facing the greatest adversity are even less likely to have their voices heard and actioned in decision-making processes due to social exclusion, the online access barrier, low media coverage and the persistence of power dynamics.
Those children and young people are most vulnerable to the impact of climate change and environmental degradation – impacting basic needs like food and nutrition, housing, health, education and children’s socioemotional wellbeing.
As we approach COP26, (which will take place between 31st October and 12th November in Glasgow, Scotland) we are acutely reminded of the immediate impact climate change is already having in Scotland – with more extreme weather conditions than ever, and bouts of flooding across the country. Equally, we shed light on the limited focus on engagement and facilitation with children and young people in the context of COP. Children are bearing the greatest burden yet contribute least to the cause of climate change.
COY-16 will play a crucial role in addressing this imbalance and providing a platform for children and youth to engage on the critical issues of climate change, human rights, and the fight for climate justice.
In response to this, Inspiring Children’s Futures is pleased to announce a workshop at COY-16: ‘No Time to Waste’…to Empower and Protect Children and Young People’s Rights to Climate Justice’ - an online event streaming Saturday, October 30, 2021 3:00PM – 4:00PM BST.
Join co-moderators, Young Advisor to the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland with Professor Jennifer Davidson, Executive Director, Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures, alongside speakers such as Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Climate Investigators from the Children’s Parliament and young Scottish climate activists and those affected by climate change in Scotland.
More information and to register here
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