A call for inclusion in climate change fight

Bridgetown, 3 August 2023 - Much more needs to be done to ensure that the rights and needs of children are firmly at the centre of national, regional and global climate and development progress, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell during a high-level visit to Barbados this week.

The Executive Director noted that although the physical, social and economic ravages of climate change have a disproportionate impact on children, especially those in Small Island Developing States, they do not have a voice in terms of action and change. “Children and the services they rely on, like health, nutrition and education, are especially vulnerable… Children therefore need to be at the heart of climate action. But they’re not,” Ms Russell contended.

These critical issues were raised by the Executive Director during her meeting with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, long seen as a champion of the global challenge to climate change and giving voice to those on the front line in Small Island Developing States.  During the rich discussion in their very first meeting, Ms Russell expressed her hope that a strong and fruitful relationship could be built around advocacy for children’s rights, both in terms of climate change (with COP28 at the end of the year) and the overarching Sustainable Development Goal agenda with its ambitious 2030 targets. Ms Mottley welcomed the visit and committed to working with UNICEF to address the impact of the climate crisis on children. 

Another major element of the trip was a lively and frank forum which brought together youth activists from across the Eastern Caribbean subregion. The young people shared their ideas, experiences, successes and challenges with the Executive Director. UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Garry Conille, who was visiting the Barbados-based Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area, also attended the event.

The activists stressed that climate change has a profound impact on all aspects of life including such areas as nutrition and physical and mental health. Priyanka Lalla, UNICEF Youth Advocate, echoed the idea that, without greater youth inclusion, real and lasting change could not be achieved.  

“In my country, Trinidad and Tobago, many young people do not believe that we have the power to make a difference…and that the quest for climate justice is idealistic. We cannot be daunted by this. We must own the future and demand meaningful change. We want youth to be at the table but, unfortunately, for many young people in our region, they don’t even know that the table exists.”

UNICEF was tasked with widening support for young people’s inclusion, giving them advocacy training and helping them to build powerful partnerships to make their inclusion meaningful and not merely tokenistic.

The Executive Director applauded the powerful insights shared. She noted that with Prime Minister Mottley’s commitment to global action on climate change, they were pushing at an open door.  She added, “Figuring out ways for you to be active participants in this discussion is really important, making sure that young people are trained so that they are ready when they get into these spaces to be forceful and effective in having an impact.” 

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This story was first published by UNICEF Eastern Caribbean and can be viewed here.