Webinar Series: Climate Change and Children’s Rights - Are Global Climate Convenings Delivering for Children? Reflecting on the 2nd Africa Climate Summit and COP30 [2 December 2025]

Efforts to tackle climate change are shaped by global geopolitics and economic considerations. Climate change is an emerging issue in the context of human rights and particularly children’s rights. The evidence shows that governments are committed to and investing in climate change resilience, mitigation and adaptation, prioritizing issues such as the just energy transition, sustainable farming, water resources management, community resilience, disaster preparedness, and anticipatory action. This approach is, largely, influenced by global politics, regional dynamics and demands from climate funding countries. On the other hand, there is no clear evidence of whether and if so, how and to what extent governments are ensuring that investment is focused on the impacts of climate change on child rights, in policy formulation or reform, budget allocation, and implementation. Yet, children constitute a large portion of the region’s population, and climate shocks threaten their health, development, and prospects. Millions of children living in informal settlements, rural areas, refugee camps, and conflict-affected regions face increased risks from climate change. The impacts are wide-ranging and devastating: food and water shortages lead to malnutrition and poor health; rising temperatures increase the spread of diseases; extreme weather events disrupt schools and healthcare facilities; and displacement forces children from their homes, exposing them to violence, exploitation, and trauma.

To address the climate crisis, a global climate consensus is required. In this webinar, we ask: are children benefiting from these consensus-building high-level and politically charged processes? If so, how?

For this edition of the series, the objective is understanding and responding to these questions, focusing on the African continent specifically. The discussions will explore how climate negotiators and high-level engagements are considering the rights and interests of children at the global, regional, and national levels.  

Panellists: 

• Youth representatives; 
• Africa Group of Negotiators; and 
• Civil society representatives

Moderator: Dullah Omar Institute, UWC

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Following registration, participants will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the webinar.