COP28: Children demand action in climate change.

 COP28: Children demand action in climate change.

Nigerian kids have joined their voices by demanding for action in the fight against climate change.COP28: Children demand action in climate change

 The children reminded the Federal Government and governments at the subnational over the multiple effect of climate change.

 They called on governments as well as global leaders to allocate more budget for climate activities to provide more sustainable solutions and resilient future.

The children, while speaking at a COP 28 Simulation event on Climate Change organised by an international non-governmental organisation, Save the Children International (SCI), stressed the need for governments to set aside funds that will help tackle the current challenges.

World leaders are presently meeting in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates to deliberate on climate change.

 A member of the Kaduna State Children Parliament, Nana Kabir, called on government at all levels to educate citizens on the need to build houses in highlands to avoid flooding.

She expressed worry that floods, in recent times, swept communities within the riverine areas, saying there should be more advocacies to save lives.

Also, a member of the Benue Children Parliament, Shamiga Rita urged governments to create opportunities and green jobs in the country.

 She also called for the need to address the challenges of people displaced by floods.

 Also, Osina Kaghini-nse, from Cross River Children Parliament, urged governments to create alternative for fossil fuel.

 He harped on the need to discourage deforestation in the country.

 The Director of Advocacy, Campaign, Communication and Media, Save the Children International (SCI), Nigeria, Amanuel Mamo, said the impact of climate change on society would increase.

 He said: “As a result, in the coming years, droughts are expected to intensify, rainfall variability is projected to increase, extreme weather events will persist, new human and livestock diseases are projected to increase, new conflicts over the decreasing resources will increase and more people will be displaced by the rising oceans, floods, wildfire, drought and expanding deserts and the like. That is what we generally referred to as effects of ‘climate change.’ All concerned parties need to take an urgent action before it is too late.

“Climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our time. It is a grave threat to children and their rights. ‘Child rights’ might not even survive a global climate catastrophe. We have created a huge environmental debt to our children and the future generation. Children have contributed the least to the climate crisis, and yet we know that they are paying the highest price.

  “While children share many of the same rights as adults, their violations due to climate change are experienced with greater severity due to their physiological and psychological vulnerabilities.”

 He added that children have a number of specific rights, such as the right to childhood, to primary education and to protection – all of which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

 “As a part of Save the Children’s flagship campaign initiative, Generation Hope, that focuses on addressing key climate change drivers, particularly for children facing acute inequality and discrimination, we are happy to be able to organise Children’s National COP28 Simulation.

“The simulation is a unique initiative designed to amplify the voices, choices and perspectives of children in climate discussions leading up to COP28 (Conference of Parties 28), World Climate Summit. As you may already know, COP28 is an important international conference where countries convene to discuss and negotiate actions for combating climate change, building upon commitments and progress being made from the previous COP meetings.

Therefore, the ‘Children Climate Ambassadors Forum’ and the ‘Climate Action Assembly,’ that will take place today and tomorrow respectively, is organised with an aim to enable children have their say in the decision-making process of an issue that affect them. It serves as a vital platform for collaboration, policy enhancement, and innovation in our collective efforts to address climate challenges in Nigeria and the world.”