Children and young people around the world are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Climate change is affecting their health, education, food security, and safety—and these impacts are set to intensify. As the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has warned, “climate change is the most significant intergenerational injustice of our time.”
Young people are disproportionately impacted by climate change, yet are too often sidelined from international climate decision making. Despite this, from the School Strikes 4 Climate to the campaign for an International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Climate Change, young people have demonstrated leadership in global climate action. However, structural barriers continue to restrict meaningful engagement. Australia’s bid to co-host COP31 is an opportunity to demonstrate leadership in children and youth
This submission outlines a proposed roadmap for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the Office for Youth to embed children and young people meaningfully in the lead-up to COP31 and beyond. It has been developed by a coalition of young Australians and informed by youth consultations across Australia and the Pacific.
