Responding to the authoritative guidance issued by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which has concluded that countries must urgently implement measures to address the damage and threat to children\u2019s rights from climate change and environmental degradation, Ann Harrison, Amnesty International\u2019s Climate Advisor, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren are among those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and environmental damage worldwide, yet they are the least responsible for this global crisis, which is now threatening their rights.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe UN Committee\u2019s new guidance underscores that children have the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, as well as a right to life, survival and development, the highest attainable standard of health, an adequate standard of living, and education.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a legally significant guidance that lays out the obligation for countries to act under the UN\u00a0Convention on the Rights of the Child\u00a0to ensure the rights of children, including Indigenous children, are protected from environmental degradation and climate change, and that they receive remedies for harms already caused.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt also reinforces the requirement on states to take all necessary measures to protect<\/a> children\u2019s rights from the harms caused by the emissions or other activities of businesses.<\/p>\n \u201cChildren often struggle to make their voices heard. Their participation in the UN Committee\u2019s guidance underscores the importance of children\u2019s activism to protect the environment<\/a> and the obligation for states to respect and protect\u00a0children\u2019s rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.<\/p>\n \u201cAmnesty International agrees with the UN Committee\u2019s conclusion that there is an urgent and collective need for higher-income countries, which have historically been the largest emitters<\/a> of greenhouse gases, to meet climate finance commitments to avoid further negative impacts on children\u2019s rights in lower income states and elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Background
\n<\/strong>This authoritative guidance from the\u00a0Committee on the Rights of the Child\u00a0\u00a0comes after two rounds of consultation with states, national human rights institutions, international organizations, civil society,\u00a0including Amnesty International, thematic experts and children.<\/p>\n