CHILD RIGHTS NETWORK FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA’s Post

🌍✨ Exciting News: Announcing the First-Ever Climate Mobility Youth Day at COP! For the first time, a fully dedicated day for climate mobility youth advocates will take place at COP! The Climate Mobility Youth Day will gather passionate young voices from across the globe at COP29 in Baku on 14 November. Co-hosted by the Global Centre for Climate Mobility and a broad coalition of youth organizations, Leaders, and Champions, this is a moment you won't want to miss. The Climate Mobility Youth Day will be a platform to elevate youth leadership in climate action and spotlight the critical role of young people in shaping climate-resilient futures. Also, it will aim to galvanize global support and generate momentum for the efforts to advance youth-led solutions, forge a common agenda, and discuss approaches to enable people positive adaptation journeys for communities at the frontlines of the climate crisis. In addition, we are still accepting applications for the 3rd Annual Climate Mobility Pavilion Youth Programme! Organized by the Global Centre for Climate Mobility, this year’s program promises to connect and empower an exceptional group of young leaders committed to addressing climate mobility challenges, designing solutions, and advancing advocacy. If you haven’t applied yet, don’t wait! Submit your application by 1 September here to be part of this transformative experience: https://lnkd.in/d4Rjxzd3 #ClimateMobility | #ClimateMobilityYouth | #ClimateAdaptation

As COP29 discussions in Baku continue, the voices of young climate advocates have taken center stage. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed solidarity with youth activists, acknowledging their frustration over the lack of political urgency. “You have every right to be angry. I am angry too”, he emphasized, calling for systemic reform and equitable solutions to address the climate crisis. This pivotal youth dialogue, organized by YOUNGO and the Youth Advisory Group, demonstrated the importance of including diverse perspectives in the fight for climate justice. From green finance and urban resilience to the integration of indigenous knowledge, young leaders are not just participants - they are shaping solutions. ESGs & Climate Consulting echos this message: empowering youth is vital to achieving meaningful, sustainable change. Let’s amplify their voices and collaborate across generations for a just and resilient future. Find the full article: https://lnkd.in/gz7rAVFA #COP29 #YouthForClimate #GreenTransition #Sustainability

As COP29 continues, the spotlight on climate reparations reflects a growing recognition of the intersection between environmental justice and human rights. The outcomes of these negotiations could shape the trajectory of global climate policies and determine the level of support extended to communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. By framing reparations as a moral and legal obligation, Southeast Asian MPs are demanding accountability and solidarity. The challenge now lies in whether developed nations will rise to the occasion and fulfil their commitments to climate justice. https://lnkd.in/gC89yhtW Mercy Chriesty Barends

Three lessons learned for women’s participation in climate change initiatives: 1. The importance of inclusive strategies targeting collective action and women's empowerment alongside climate objectives to address discriminatory laws, social norms, and gender-based violence in the context of climate action. 2. The value of decentralised, flexible, and responsive funding mechanisms that meet the specific needs of women, trans, and non-binary individuals affected by climate change, as demonstrated by projects like the Urgent Action Fund and PIFEVA. 3. The promotion of bottom-up approaches and the avoidance of imposing terminology on partners, prioritizing community-led solutions and amplifying the voices and expertise of marginalized groups in addressing socio-economic challenges and the climate crisis. https://lnkd.in/eWRym5uH

How long will children have to pay the price for global inaction? 🌍 ❌ The new climate finance goal agreed upon at #COP29 fails children, their families and communities on the frontline of the #ClimateCrisis again. The new target figure of $300 billion a year for climate-vulnerable countries by 2035, and the failure to address loss and damage flies in the face of the ambition needed to tackle this emergency. The omission of children’s rights from the text is also a disgrace for the increasing number of children who are speaking up about how escalating extreme weather events are pushing them out of their homes and their schools, reducing the food on their plates and forcing them into child labour or marriage⚠️ Gabrielle, 15, a child campaigner from Vanuatu with Save the Children at COP29, said:  “This decision is unfair and completely neglectful of child rights and human rights. If children are not included in these types of decision and policy making, it makes it very hard to get climate justice for one of the most marginalised groups in the world." Children like Gabrielle deserve better. It's high time leaders stepped up and recognised the climate crisis is a child's rights crisis and provide the financial support they need and deserve. Together we can and must #SaveTomorrow. Read Save the Children's full COP29 outcome statement👉 https://lnkd.in/ebtTniE3

At #COP29 we released a WhatWorks2PreventVAWG, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade report on addressing gender-based violence in climate action. As the Minister for Development, Anneliese Dodds said at the launch, well-meaning climate action can actually increase the risks of gender-based violence when they fail to take it into account, which causes harm and reduces the impact. Our research found addressing gender-based violence contributes to effective climate action through: 🏝 Enabling women, girls and gender diverse people to adapt and build resilience to climate change 🙋♀️ Supporting gender equal decision-making and leadership in adaptation and resilience ⚠ Preventing harm to individuals and communities during climate emergencies 📣 Enabling climate activists to work without fear or intimidation 👩🔬 Supporting a just transition We found emerging good practice for integrating gender-based violence into climate action: 💰 Including GBV in climate change policies, programmes and finance. ♀ Working with local and Indigenous GBV experts, survivor groups, and womenʼs rights organisations. ♿ Considering the specific needs of groups experiencing multiple forms of marginalisation. 🗣  Challenging harmful social norms that normalise violence. 💓 Ensuring GBV services are provided alongside disaster response efforts. 🙏 Supporting climate and environmental activists to continue their work without fear of harm. There is a way to go – for example analysis of the climate finance in Rwanda showed just 0.01% was assigned the GBV purpose code, and current discussions on loss and damage often exclude gender-based violence. But the report contains examples of initiatives and policies that could be scaled up and learned from, and we hope it supports further efforts towards gender-just climate action. Naomi Clugston Erika McAslan Fraser Onyeka Vivian Nneli Read the report and policy brief here - https://lnkd.in/euKxUS4U

In another special episode from COP29, as part of our Climate Justice Series 2024, Malkia J., a Business Fights Poverty Youth Ambassador, engages in a dynamic conversation with Zachary Lubin, a recent University of Glasgow graduate and passionate environmentalist. Zach shares his insights into the conference's atmosphere and his personal experiences, while Malkia navigates diverse viewpoints from global delegates. Together, they highlight how businesses can play a crucial role in combating climate change and advocate for actionable solutions. 🎙️Tune in to discover how young leaders like Zach and Malkia are shaping the future of environmental advocacy and the vital contributions of businesses to this movement. https://lnkd.in/dQ499yKZ #BFP_COP #ClimateJustice #ClimateChange #COP29

Help ensure the needs and rights of young children are centered in #climatechange policy by signing this call to action (as an individual or as an organization) by the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN). #COP29

#TAIRecommends Who controls the narrative for community justice and accountability? (Part 2) by Eszter Filippinyi, Deputy Director at Trust, Accountability and Inclusion Collaborative. In this follow-up blog from her series on Trust-based and Locally Led Processes toward Climate Justice in Brazil, Eszter reflects on the 7th International Colloquium on Traditional People and Communities. She sheds light on how powerful interests often control the narratives around climate justice, sidelining the communities most affected by environmental and extractive policies. As COP30 approaches, this blog emphasizes the need for collaboration, accountability, and indigenous leadership in shaping a just climate future. Let’s continue the conversation—how can we collectively push for a narrative that centers justice and empowers local communities? Read more and share your thoughts! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eeR85zcm #ClimateCrisis #EconomicInequality #TAIBlog #ClimateJustice #IndigenousRights #CommunityJustice #COP30 #Brazil Carolina Munis Oak Foundation Ford Foundation Cecilia Viana Climate and Land Use Alliance Articulação dos Povos Indígenas do Brasil (APIB) CONAQ - Coordenação Nacional de Articulação Quilombola OECD - OCDE Michael Jarvis Cristina Ordóñez Yery Menendez Garcia Leah Eryenyu Darlington Marange

The chart from the UNFCCC illustrates the regional distribution of participants from NGOs and intergovernmental groups at COPs over the years. A clear trend stands out: "Western Europe and other Global North regions have consistently dominated the observer presence", highlighting the unequal representation at crucial global climate discussions. 🔍 Key Observations: 1. Western Europe and Others (in purple): Represent a significant portion of the NGO and intergovernmental observer groups, ranging from over 50% to nearly 80% across different COP sessions. 2. Underrepresented Regions: - Africa and the Asia-Pacific regions (in yellow and orange) show minimal increases in presence over time, but their representation remains disproportionately low compared to the Global North. - Eastern Europe and Latin America and Caribbean regions (in red and purple) also continue to have minimal representation. 🌿 Why This Matters: The disproportionate representation at COPs has deep implications for how climate policies and decisions are shaped. With the "Global South bearing the brunt of climate impacts", it is essential for these regions to have a stronger voice in negotiations. Increasing their participation ensures that the climate crisis is addressed more equitably, with solutions that consider the needs and challenges of vulnerable communities. 🚨 Call to Action for NGOs: NGOs, particularly those from underrepresented regions, need more support to increase their presence** at these conferences. This can be achieved by: - Promoting equitable access to COPs. - Ensuring funding and capacity-building initiatives. - Strengthening partnerships across regions to amplify Global South voices. 🌎 Climate negotiations must reflect the voices of all regions, especially those most affected by climate change. It is essential that we bridge this representation gap and work toward a fairer, more inclusive global climate dialogue. #ClimateAction #COP28 #GlobalSouth #NGO #ClimateJustice #UNFCCC #ClimateNegotiations Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE)