UNICEF Urgently Calls for Child-Centric Climate Action

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KAMPALA – In anticipation of the African Climate Summit in September, representatives from Uganda’s children and youth, in collaboration with UNICEF, are urgently calling upon the Government and all stakeholders to take immediate and resolute action to confront the climate crisis and fulfill global targets.

In a press release dated 29^th August 2023, Alexandra (Sacha) Westerbeek, Chief of Communication, Advocacy, and Partnerships at UNICEF Uganda, emphasized the significance of including the voices of children and young people in pivotal decision making processes concerning the climate crisis, leading up to the African Climate Summit in Nairobi.

“The climate crisis poses a critical challenge to the rights of children in Uganda, making it imperative to prioritize their perspectives in climate discussions. Placing children at the core of climate discourse is crucial to ensure that their needs and rights significantly influence the accelerated actions required in alignment with the Paris Agreement, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and other pertinent frameworks”. Alexandra Said.

Alexandra emphasizes that it is the responsibility of every individual to take action, particularly in safeguarding the most vulnerable children from the severe repercussions of a changing climate and deteriorating environment.

According to Alexandra, both present and future generations are at risk of adverse consequences due to climate change stating that currently, numerous communities have been displaced, forcing children to migrate.

“Additionally, the impact of climate-related factors has hindered access to education, contributed to food insecurity, and prolonged drought in certain regions of Uganda, leading to loss of life. This is a time not for complacency, but for unified efforts towards a more sustainable environment”. Alexandra stated.

Alexandra  calls upon the Government of Uganda to champion the theme “The climate crisis is a child rights crisis” by committing to ambitious and actionable climate initiatives that prioritize and safeguard the rights and well-being of children, both nationally and globally.

We are all bearing the brunt of the climate crisis and the situation will only get worse if we do not act now. Therefore, we are urging our leaders to:

PRIORITIZE children and young people in climate funding and resources; Adaptation and resilience building remains critically underfunded and under-resourced, yet they go a long way in saving and protecting lives.

PREVENT the worsening of the crisis for children and young people by securing rapid emissions reduction (mitigation) and the transition to renewable energy.

PROTECT the health, safety, learning and opportunities of every child; by adapting the critical social services they rely on – water and sanitation (WASH), health, education, nutrition, social protection, and child protection – so they are resilient to the immediate and expected impacts
of climate change.

PREPARE children and young people to live in a climate-changed world; by improving their adaptive capacity,’ ensuring their voices are heard and acted on, and their education and skills are enhanced so they can participate in creating a sustainable future.