The climate emergency is a key driver of extreme poverty, inequality and child vulnerability. It impedes the realisation of children’s fundamental rights as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“The unfolding climate crisis compounds existing social and economic inequalities both within and between countries, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable children and their caregivers, particularly those living in urban slums and informal settlements, in fragile and developing contexts.”
Despite being at the forefront of inter-related crises in cities, children and youth, especially the most marginalised, face discrimination and exclusion from decision-making processes in urban and transport planning, climate change mitigation, and local governance, and lack direct representation of their needs. Yet, when children and youth actively participate, they catalyse positive change in the spaces in which they live, learn, work and play, contributing to better cities for all.
As part of COP26, we hosted our first event: ‘Our Climate, Our Future – an intergenerational dialogue’.
This interactive and intergenerational dialogue features children, youth, local governments, practitioners and organisations focused on child wellbeing in cities, on their experiences, solutions and replicable projects to tackle the climate emergency.
Keynote speaker:
- Elizabeth Wathuti, Global South Co-Chair of the COP26 Civil Society and Youth Advisory Council. Founder of The Green Generational Initiative, Kenya.
Moderation:
- Chris Michael, Editor, The Guardian
Youth Activists:
- Ana Malia Falemaka, Tonga
- Katrina Lisnichuk, Paraguay
- Nomundari Urantulga, Mongolia
- Daniel Onyango, Kenya
- Omnia El Omrani, Egypt
Other Contributors:
- Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand, former UNDP Administrator. Co-President of Chatham House
- Trudy Harrison, MP, Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, UK
- Sarah Sabry, Global Lead Urban, Save the Children
- Claudio Castro, Mayor of Renca, Santiago de Chile
- Tim Gill, Independent Scholar and Writer, Rethinking Childhood
- Zoleka Mandela, Global Ambassador, Child Health Initiative
- Saul Billingsley, CEO, FIA Foundation
This event took place in Glasgow, COP26 Green Zone Tower Base North.