Part II: Climate negotiations & decision making
The impact on children
The intersection between climate change and children is one of the least talked about in Conference of the Parties (COP) conversations and beyond. And in Part I of this series we can see what kind of impact this has.
What is COP?
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. All States that are Parties to the Convention are represented at the COP, at which they review the implementation of the Convention and any other legal instruments that the COP adopts and take decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the Convention, including institutional and administrative arrangements.
In Part II of this series, I am not going to highlight the impact climate change is imposing on children, but the gaps in the process and results of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) processes while trying to understand what the Convention is. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the principal global treaty for coordinating international responses to climate change. It provides the foundation for subsequent legal instruments, including the Kyoto Protocol and the landmark Paris Agreement. The UNFCCC has 198 Parties, comprising 197 States and the European Union, making it one of the most widely ratified international treaties. (UN, n.d).
Climate Finance
A major gap in addressing climate change is around Climate Finance, particularly that dedicated to supporting children.
Climate Finance refers to local, national or transnational financing—drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing—that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change. Adaptation refers to adjustments in ecological, social or economic systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli and their effects, while efforts to reduce emissions and enhance sinks are referred to as “mitigation”. In accordance with the principle of “common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities” set out in the Convention, developed country Parties are to provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties in implementing the objectives of the UNFCCC.
The average number of children aged 0-14 across 196 countries in 2023 was 26.11%, and yet, alarmingly, only 2.4% of climate finance from major multilateral funds supported projects that were responsive to children’s needs and rights between 2006 and 2023 (Falling Short, 2023). This figure is shocking, as the most vulnerable group is receiving only a minimal amount of support despite making up a significant portion of the population. The disparity highlights the need for increased investments that addresses the specific challenges children face in the context of climate change.
Children’s representation
In climate discussion spaces, we sometimes come across children. A place where children are needed. Constituencies like YOUNGO support the meaningful engagement of children in these spaces. YOUNGO is the official child and youth constituency of the UNFCCC. YOUNGO is a vibrant, global network of children and youth activists (up to 35 years) as well as youth NGOs, who contribute to shaping the intergovernmental climate change policies and strive to empower children and youth to formally bring their voices to the UNFCCC processes.
But often the voices and engagement of the most affected children are overlooked. Not only is there a limited representation of children at COP, there is also a big concern regarding the meaningful engagement of children. And this is even more challenging for children from the global south as barriers like funding, visas and language are challenges.
COP associated costs
With tens of thousands of delegates attending COP each year, the resources that go into this conference are increasing. For COP28, approximately 85,000 people attended in Dubai, UAE, while last year, COP29 saw over 55,000 participants in Baku, Azerbaijan, and yet, no publicly available information is as to how much money is spent to host such events. But, if we include events like the ‘climate weeks’ happening in each continent around the same time, is it really efficient for tens of thousands people to attend this conference bearing the high cost? Of course a lot of important discussions, influencing and negotiations are happening inside the conference. But what we need to understand is: are we addressing climate change, a critical issue that is critically affecting millions of lives at the same time when these discussions are ongoing? It should leave us wondering how much the most vulnerable communities would have benefited, if the majority of this funding could have directly been dedicated to them.
Climate Education
Another overlooked concept in the road to COP30 is Climate Education. Climate Education is integrated under Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) in the UNFCCC. Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) is a term adopted by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to denote work under Article 6 of the Convention and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement. The overarching goal of ACE is to empower all members of society to engage in climate action, through the six ACE elements: climate change education and public awareness, training, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation on these issues.”
Climate Education is essential for empowering children to understand and address the pressing challenges of climate change and teach them adaptation and mitigation measures in an accessible and engaging way. This underscores the importance of prioritising climate education at COP30, as it is crucial for fostering a generation that is not only informed about climate issues but also empowered to take meaningful action and advocate for sustainable solutions in their communities.
While gaps remain in addressing the intersection of climate change and children, there is hope for a brighter now and future. Supporting children to be meaningfully engaged, represented, and have their perspectives heard requires creating safe spaces at events like the Conference of the Parties (COP), such as designated children zones and child-led panels where their voices can be amplified.
Support for their attendance in these spaces should not only cover travel and visa assistance but also involve bringing the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the most marginalised areas, ensuring that the most affected communities and children can be included. This also creates opportunities for individuals working on climate action who haven’t witnessed the most affected areas by climate change to see and understand the issue firsthand. Sometimes, it should not always be the children who have to engage, but rather others who should make the effort to engage with the children.
Another suggestion is that, similar to how COP29 was referred to as the “Finance COP,” there should be a dedicated COP focused specifically on children’s priorities and needs. The UNFCCC and the climate negotiation community should use language and terminology that children can easily understand. Inclusion should begin at this level, ensuring that children’s voices are integrated into the climate dialogue from the outset.
Additionally, children especially from the most marginalised community should be given the opportunity to be involved in and lead climate actions, as well as access to climate finance that supports their initiatives, along with tailored support and assistance. This should also include investing in climate education and empowerment, which will not only equip children with the knowledge to tackle climate challenges but also enable them to become champions of change.
By supporting children as the next responsible generation, we can cultivate a more resilient, environmentally conscious, healthy, and happy society. As we approach COP30, it is essential for government officials, youth delegates, and organisational representatives to consistently bring and include the voices of children in their discussions and decisions.
This piece is the second in a series by Terre des Hommes NL Research Intern, and Climate Justice activist, Ilham Mohammed Ali. She actively participates in various initiatives focused on Climate Action, Gender Equality, and Human Rights in her community, including co-founding one initiative.
Find Ilham on LinkedIn
References
The Global Economy https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/download-data.php
Unicef, (2023). Falling short: Addressing the Climate Finance Gap for Children https://www.unicef.org/media/142181/file/Falling-short-Addressing-the-climate-finance-gap-for-children-June-2023.pdf
United Nations. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Climate, Peace and Security https://www.un.org/climatesecuritymechanism/en/united-nations-framework-convention-climate-change-unfccc-and-climate-peace-and-security
United Nations Climate Change. Action for Climate Empowerment https://unfccc.int/topics/education-and-youth/big-picture/ACE
United Nations Climate Change. Conference of the Parties https://unfccc.int/process/bodies/supreme-bodies/conference-of-the-parties-cop
United Nations Climate Change. Introduction Adaptation and Resilience https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/the-big-picture/introduction
United Nations Climate Change. Introduction to Climate Finance https://unfccc.int/topics/introduction-to-climate-finance
United Nations Climate Change. Introduction to Mitigation https://unfccc.int/topics/introduction-to-mitigation
United Nations Climate Change. YOUNGO https://unfccc.int/topics/action-for-climate-empowerment-children-and-youth/youth/youngo#tab_home
United Nations Climate Change. UN Climate Change Conference – United Arab Emirates https://unfccc.int/cop28United Nations Climate Change. UN Climate Change Conference Baku – November 2024 https://unfccc.int/cop29
