We’ve heard it all before: sea level rise, increasing temperatures, droughts, extreme weather events and the gradual extinction of biomass on our planet. The majority of the population assume that Climate Change most obvious and perhaps, only effects are on the physical landscape. But what if we look at this global issue from a different perspective? Perhaps Climate Change has more of a direct impact on humans than just the physical environment. Perhaps Climate Change has the potential to violate the rights of a child. Perhaps it already has. Here’s how.
You may, or may not, be aware of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). The most significant international convention that stated a child should have the right to the 3Ps: Provision, Protection and Participation. All children, no matter what race, religion or ethnicity should have the basic needs such as food and housing, should be protected from any kind of abuse and be able to freely express their views on all matters that affect them. Right? Wrong.
Before you think this has no relation to Climate Change, take a look at these statistics.
Although law enforcements are in place, unfortunately many children continue to suffer. Today, children and young adults are still subject to danger from malnutrition and starvation, lack of water clarity and vulnerable to slavery. Globally, 17,000 children die every day and 61,000 million children are not receiving education. Poverty and inequality are making the implementation of human rights particularly difficult.
Take a look at this feedback loop as an example:
Climate Change affects weather patterns –> extreme weather event (Hurricane) – causes destruction of schools, causes oil spillages into water supply, and limits food resources available – children have lost their education, lost water clarity and food. (All of which are the basic rights of a child)
Social justice is still a long way off. Such infringements are worsened by environmental damage, making Climate Change not only an environmental calamity but also a generational crisis. Climate Change is hitting the youngest most vulnerable people, infringing their rights, and many of us don’t even see it.
In 2019, IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) claimed that unless the world’s industrialised nations acted to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, by 2030 there would be catastrophic and irreversible climate change.
While we see the most obvious effects of climate change including sea level rise, extreme weather and flooding, Climate Change has also led to social unrest (most of you will be familiar with the mass Global Climate Change Protest in Summer 2019).
One of the first instances where a figure made a public demonstration linking Climate Change and children’s rights was U.S Secretary of Stata John Kerry in 2016. At the Paris Agreement, he came up to the podium, carried his daughter, and stood at the front of the stage. It was a reminder of the importance of the treaty for future generations.
Kerry experienced a good bit of backlash from the media, with the Daily Mail criticising – ‘OK, MR KERRY, WE GET IT – IT’S FOR THE CHILDREN.’ Despite this criticism, the irony is, they make a good point. The decisions the adults make now will affect the life and environment for the younger generation.
Take a look at this second example of how Climate Change directly impacts the right of a child:
Climate Change causes an increase in temperature of water-> for the millions of children who rely on seafood as their main source of protein/family income, warmer or more acidic waters are destroying food chains meaning access to this food supply is a lot harder.
While it can be argued that these problems affect both adults and children, it is children’s social vulnerability and dependence on adults that mean poor children’s rights are at greatest risk in the face of climate change.
Of course, risks and effects vary in terms of economic scale. With some countries having the money and resources to cope with this change sustainably, while others are not. Climate Change does not affect everyone equally, illuminating and increasing inequality and injustice.
Today, many activists use the term ‘Climate Justice’ as opposed to ‘Climate Change’ emphasising a critical human right point here. The most famous amongst them is Gretha Thunberg, who, aged 16, argued Climate Change was isolating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
This Climate Justice movement is not an entirely new phenomenon and young people have always been alongside each other. Though recently this issue has certainly become more visible.
Perhaps now you see Climate Change as an issue of Climate Justice, we will begin to open our eyes to just how great of an issue we are facing. It’s been said many times. But we do- we do need change. So, ask yourself this: If not me, who? If not now, when? As Gretha Thunberg put it in 2019 : “The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say: We will never forgive you. “
