As COP29 is coming to an end, Save the Children and child campaigners in Baku remind world leaders that children’s rights must be at the centre of negotiations over the climate finance goal.
BAKU, 22 November 2024 – Children’s rights must be at the centre of negotiations over the climate finance goal – the New Collective Quantified Goal for Climate Finance (NCQG) – that are now reaching crunch time at COP29, Save the Children said.
Maxwell, 15, a child campaigner from South Sudan who is at COP29 with Save the Children, said:
“Our country is one of the less developed and cannot sustain itself from the impacts of climate change. In South Sudan, some children are not sitting exams because their schools are flooded, others might be sitting in water while writing exams. Also in South Sudan, schools were closed due to too much sun and heat.
“Near me, we even lost 10 children due to flooding. They could be our next president, doctors, nurses, lawyers or even representing other children in COP29 but they have lost their lives because of bad human activities that lead to climate change. We need to stop this!
“Some of the children here said similar things happened in their countries - even killing children and destroying properties which is bad. It is very bad when I heard other children also died due to climate change in other countries.
“When other speakers were speaking, I also heard that we don’t contribute to climate change, but it affects us more, so let them heavily support us and also include us in the implementation of those projects because we know our issues better.
“I say to leaders: you are our only hope, be there for us because we are looking up to you. I know you have a lot to do, but you should put us first. Please listen to children. If you don’t think about us and our rights then why did you develop children’s rights? If you don’t listen to us then what future are you securing?
“As we talk, children are dying due to climate change and that should be our main reason for coming here. I came from South Sudan to represent their voices. It will be bad for me to go home without any good news for children.”
Spokespersons
Emily Wight, Global Media Manager
Emily.Wight@savethechildren.org
