Children’s voices must be heard on climate crisis, says UN rights body
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A UN body has said governments must respond to growing concerns expressed by children about the effects of the climate crisis and other environmental emergencies on their lives and futures. In its strongly worded official opinion released Monday, Committee on Rights of Child concludes that triple crisis on planet "is an urgent and systemic threat to children's rights globally." The committee outlines the immediate risks children face due to poor air water quality, lack of food safety, and exposure to toxic pollutants such as lead disasters. It also points to structural challenges that pose long-term threats, such as greenhouse gas emissions, unsustainable use of resources and ecosystem degradation. Francisco Vera, 14, Unicef's youth advocate for environment and climate action in Latin America and the Caribbean, said children are demanding action against these interlinked crises, adding that "it is precisely because adults do not take responsibility for it." The UN opinion states for the first time that states have a duty to protect a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for future generations as well as the youth living today. "While rights of children on earth need urgent attention, children who come constantly have the right to maximum realization of their human rights," it says. Aoife Nolan, professor of international human rights law at University of Nottingham, said the statement served as "a crucial tool for those who advocate for climate justice at both international and national legal level". In addition, governments are responsible for foreseeable environmental threats that arise as a result of their current actions or omissions and whose “full effects may not occur for years or even decades”. Some of views presented to committee demanded that it take a stronger stance on state responsibility for mitigating climate change, noting International Energy Agency's warning that if world reaches net zero by 2050, there will be no new investment in coal, oil or gas. . The UN's final view says delaying the rapid elimination of fossil fuels will lead higher global emissions and more harm to children's rights, but urges states simply "consider" this. Some language in document has been reinforced, but committee is trying to stay "somewhat marginal", said committee chair Ann Skelton, a law professor at University of Pretoria and director South African Child Law Center. Expressing that states should fulfill their duties, she added that its members are "not experts in the environment". But the UN body appreciates children's efforts to raise awareness of environmental crises. The committee responsible for monitoring implementation of Convention on Rights of Child received 16,331 contributions from children in 121 countries describing how their health, lives and communities are being harmed. According to the convention, children “must be recognized and fully respected as environmental actors”. The opinion emphasizes that children have the right to