A pint-sized dilemma?

Navigating the rights of children in the face of climate change

Abstract

The prevailing consensus among scholars is that a multitude of international dialogues and conferences have been extensively recorded pertaining to the enduring matter of climate change. Over the years, it has become a matter of policy concern and a menace to global peace, causing irreversible and adverse effects on human rights. Frequently susceptible to this climate change are vulnerable groups of our society, especially those in less developed nations, developing nations, individuals facing poverty, indigenous groups, and children are the most susceptible to the impacts of climate change.
This discourse endeavors to shed light upon the pervasive tendency to overlook the profound impact of climate change upon the younger generation, thereby elucidating the frequency with which such oversight occurs. The individuals in question are presently experiencing the repercussions of this climate change, manifesting in both psychological and physiological afflictions. The present discourse aims to shed light upon the ramifications of prevailing weather patterns and climatic circumstances on the contemporary generation of children.
The primary aim of this study is to delve into the intricate relationship that exists between climate change and the fundamental rights of children. The multifaceted phenomenon of climate change exerts disparate impacts upon the vulnerable demographic of children across diverse geographical locations. The focal point of this discourse revolves around matters pertaining to natural calamities, afflictions, the provision of potable water, and the attainment of sustenance in adequate quantities.
Through a doctrinal analysis of international instruments and recent climate jurisprudence, illustrated by country experiences across diverse settings, this study maps climatic harms onto children's rights and State obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and proposes a dedicated international mechanism for children and climate to close the gap between rights affirmed and protection delivered.