Children demand a voice in climate policies and put child-sensitive issues at the centre of COP30 negotiations

Children from Kicukiro, Nyarugenge, Musanze, Burera, Nyamagabe, Ruhango districts, and Mahama the biggest refugee camp in Rwanda, urged climate decision-makers to consider their views and experiences in shaping climate policies during the Children’s Climate Advocacy Event ahead of COP30.  They emphasised that they are the most highly exposed to the effects of climate change.

Supported by Save the Children, in collaboration with Children’s Voice Today, Nature Rwanda, and Uwezo Youth Empowerment, young climate advocates called for their active participation in climate decision-making process and the inclusion of child-sensitive priorities in all National Climate Plans, including the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC.3).

Ange, a 14-year-old climate advocate from Kigali, highlighted how climate shocks threaten services for children, such as education, noting that heavy rains have damaged schools and disrupted learning. She also pointed out the broader impacts on issues like food insecurity and poverty and stressed the importance of including children's perspectives.

“Children’s perspectives on climate action must be included. We, as children, are creative in finding solutions to the climate crisis. At the Africa Climate Summit, children with visual disabilities actively participated in climate discussions, and others expressed how climate change affects their rights through paintings. Since we are the most affected by climate shocks, we must be involved in climate decision-making. We are not just beneficiaries—we are stakeholders and agents of change,” said Ange.

Meeting in hybrid sessions, children, including those with disabilities, called for support for their initiatives in community mobilisation against climate change.    Benigne, 17, added: “We request the government and its partners to continue supporting children’s initiatives aimed at combating climate change sustainably.”

Children further requested recognition as key stakeholders in climate action, expansion of climate-resilient agriculture, promotion of school-based eco-clubs nationwide, and the integration of climate resilience into school curricula and youth training programs.

David Ukwishaka, a Climate Negotiator at the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), acknowledged Rwanda's progress in empowering children in environmental protection and incorporating child-sensitive issues into the NDC.

“REMA collaborated with UNICEF and Save the Children on a study examining how children can participate in climate processes and how NDC.3 addresses climate issues with a focus on children. We included a dedicated section on children’s priorities in NDC.3, making sure all programs respond to their needs. This is a significant achievement, as NDC.3 now specifically highlights child-sensitive issues. We are committed to ensuring its implementation and ongoing monitoring,” said Ukwishaka.

Marcel Sibomana, Director of Programme Development and Quality at Save the Children for Rwanda and Burundi, emphasised the educational and moral responsibility to empower children on environmental issues.

“Save the Children trains children to act from a young age. When a child plants a tree or discusses climate issues, they learn leadership and responsibility. We don’t want them to just watch decisions about their lives; we want them to participate and shape those decisions,” Sibomana explained.

A recent study by Save the Children and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) found that nearly a third of today’s five-year-olds—approximately 38 million children—could avoid lifetime exposure to unprecedented extreme heat if the world meets the 1.5°C warming target by 2100. Conversely, under current commitments, up to 100 million children could face such exposure, underscoring the urgent need for climate action to protect future generations.