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PROTECT EVERY 
CHILD FROM THE CLIMATE CRISIS

Support our petition asking the UK Government to sign the Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action. Supportour petition asking the UK Governmentto sign up to the Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action.

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PROTECT EVERY CHILD FROM THE CLIMATE CRISIS

Support our petition asking the UK Government to sign the Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action. 

The climate crisis is a child rights crisis. From access to clean air, food and safe water; to education, housing, and even their right to survive, the climate crisis hits children hardest. 

Already 1 billion children are at extremely high risk of the impacts of the climate crisis. Last year, children were forced to leave their homes due to weather events almost 10 million times. 

We’re at a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change. The window is closing on our chance to limit warming to 1.5 Degrees and avoid the worst of the climate crisis.

Children around the world, along with UNICEF, CERI and YOUNGO, have drafted a declaration for every government to sign. It is the first declaration of its kind, and it calls for decision-makers to commit to developing global principles on child rights and the environment, and to make sure climate policies are inclusive, and child and youth-centred.  Already 29 countries have signed, now is the time for the UK government to join them and to put children at the heart of their climate policies and actions. 

Support a brighter future for children in the UK and around the world. Sign our petition now asking the UK Government to sign the Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action. 

 

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The Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action asks governments everywhere to: 

 

1. Advocate for global recognition and fulfilment of children’s inalienable right to a healthy environment, and to take steps to enshrine this right in regional treaties and frameworks, national Constitutions and/or legislation. 
 

2. Scale up efforts to respect, promote and consider the rights of children and young people in implementation of the Paris Agreement at all levels, including recognition of their specific vulnerabilities, as well as their status as key stakeholders and implementers, in countries’ national climate adaptation and mitigation measures, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and long-term greenhouse gas emissions development strategies, including consideration of the particular role and responsibilities of the private sector. 
 

3. Urgently scale up and accelerate investment in child- and youth-responsive adaptation, disaster risk reduction and mitigation measures, with a particular focus on reaching children most at risk, and advocate for child-sensitive criteria to be mainstreamed in multilateral funds. 
 

4. Strengthen the capacity of children and young people on climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts by establishing and investing in climate change and environmental education, and equipping children and young people with the knowledge and skills required to protect themselves and contribute to a safe and sustainable future, ensuring that such efforts reach marginalized children and youth. 
 

5. Enhance the meaningful participation of children and youth in climate change processes, including through the Action for Climate Empowerment dialogue, by participating in the Youth Delegate Programme in the UNFCCC, and supporting the YOUNGO Global South Youth Scholarship. 
 

6. Consider and actively explore measures to establish an international Commission for Children and Future Generations, as well as mechanisms at the national level to ensure the effective participation of children and youth in decision making on climate change. 
 

7. Adopt institutional and administrative measures, as well as partnerships, at national and international levels to actively pursue the above objectives, and to enhance coherence and a cross-cutting focus on children and youth in climate action, including with respect to UNFCCC decision-making processes and workstreams, and implementation of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.  

 

Read more about it here: https://www.childrenvironment.org/declaration-children-youth-climate-action  

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