PACJA Launched Children’s book on Climate change on the sidelines of COP28

The survey conducted by OECD, in 2021 in 10 countries indicated that 75% of young people think the future is frightening and 60% are extremely worried about climate change.  The same organization gave recommendations that “16% of children receiving climate education can lead to a 19 gigaton reduction in carbon emissions by 2050”.

However, the role of children in climate conversation has not attracted the attention of policymakers and climate change experts.  While future generations may face the legacy of today’s generation, children themselves describe the current process as exclusion while they are most affected by the adverse impacts of climate change.

At the ongoing COP28 conversations that touched on children’s rights about Climate Change, climate education and planning for children was raised as an issue that needs solutions.

Looking at these scenarios, the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance in partnership with Save the Children, on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai on Climate-Induced Migration – Lived Realities of Children in Africa, launched an educational children’s book containing simplified content on climate change.

In this event participants were able to explore the experiences and impacts children are facing as they move and arrive in new places, the challenges that urban and peri-urban authorities and civil society face in providing the necessary support services to children and families, the criticality of supporting social cohesion as children and families from different areas to come together into crowded spaces, and current and new solutions to address these challenges.

Naomi Joseph, 13 from South Sudan stood out to say that enough is enough for African children who are traversing the calvary of Climate-induced displacement which is causing a lot on their lives. The young but inspirational Naomi said that children are facing malnutrition, school dropout and other related climate conflicts which pose a challenge to their future and rights.

 “We talk and talk but we don’t see action.  We must know that to build Africa we have to fight against Climate Change because it is affecting us. All children will die because of Climate change. It would help if you left the place for us” stressed young and inspirational Naomi.

Mr. Malama Mwila, Regional Head of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns- Save the Children International said that Climate Conversations involving children should have started 30 years ago as they are the most affected by adverse impacts of climate change.

He however said that the time has come to centre conversations around children and commended the expert dialogues as one of the ways to address the issue.

Dr. Mithika Mwenda, the Executive Director, PACJA that in 30 years to come those who are Naomi’s age will be negotiating on behalf of Africa. He encouraged children’s involvement in climate processes and affirmed that PACJA would support the action.  We shall create a platform for children and climate justice. We are not ending the process because we believe that children are crosscutting in all sectors, hence we have to collaborate for a solution” Dr. Mithika affirmed.

UNICEF indicates that nearly 90% of the global burden of diseases associated with climate change is borne by children under the age of 5; as an example, every year around the world 525,000 children die from diarrhoea, often caused by water contaminated as a result of floods.

In addition to this, the United Nations in its research conducted this year, it 49 countries found out that children in 48 out of 49 African Countries assessed were found to be at high or extremely high risk of impacts of Climate change based on their exposure and vulnerability to cyclones, heatwaves and other climate and environmental shocks, and access to essential services.

Click here to download the book