By Ch. Narendra
Ahead of the conference on climate change COP 27 at Egypt, PRATYeK, a registered organization , with UN ECOSOC status, known for its national childled-advocacy initiative NINEISMINE, is hosting an online event NO COP OUT on November 4 and 5, along with coalition partners World Vision India, Wada Na Todo Abhiyan, Vanshakti, Save the Children, Kids 4 Tiger, Brian Rhyme, INECC, Terres des Homes Switzerland and Edmund Rice International, Geneva.
NO COP OUT is an attempt to involve children in policy decision-making that will influence the lives of 2.2 billion children globally. Talking about the event, Steve Rocha, the National Convenor of NINEISMINE, stated that “Each generation is given an opportunity to change the course of history, children seek to be at the forefront of this historic moment to reverse climate change which demands their ecological rights and those of their mother Earth”.
World delegates from countries including Canada, UK, Denmark, Germany, amongst others, who are participating in COP 27 will meet children at the event and interact with them. More than 600 children have registered for this online consultation.
The Conference of Parties (COP 27) will see member nations of the UNFCC discussing methods to combat the global climate crisis focussing on carbon emission reduction, clean energy, technology transfers and carbon financing. NO COP OUT event will impact a major policy document from the United Nations, called General Comment 26 to recognise the ecological rights of children.
Karthik Verma (16) a young delegate from Uttar Pradesh a member of the NINEISMINE campaign who will present the Ad Vocal report at the event, expressed. ‘He is the official delegate from India who will be joining international diplomats in June 23. Who will gather in Geneva to declare to decide on general comments 26. Said, that “I request each of you to use this report on teaching tools, learning advocacy toolkit for a leaner today and for a greener tomorrow.”
“We may not be voters, But if vote is an acronym for voice of the empowered , then we choose to be that and the voice of the earth, voice of the endangered (Species), voice of the excluded (children), we will vote with our voices. We will vote with our feet” says Priya – 17, Prime Minister, National inclusive children’ Parliament, India.
The AD VOCAL report cum toolkit created over a year has opinions gathered from 3500 adolescent voices across the globe seeking ecological rights for children. Children will present their recommendations to improve the ecological rights of children and will cover
• Right to green child-specific risk and impact assessments
• Right to holistic green education
• Right to adequate green information
• Right to genuine expression and participation
• Right to recover and complain
• Right to protection when vulnerable
• Right to best green laws and standards
• Right to expect good green governance
• Right to corporate earth responsibility
• Right to green budgets and green policies
Karthik will also be representing India in Egypt and at the General Comment 26 to be held at Geneva in February’23. And two young student chosen by the UNICEF will also be addressing the online event echoing the call of people with disabilities. Children say ‘Nothing about us children without us children’ particularly in relation to their present and their future.
This coalition of NGO’s works behind the scenes to recognize children as primary stakeholders of our communities and provides them with local, national and international forums to effectively engage with policymakers while ensuring the effective implementation. Commenting on the initiative, Salmon Jacob, Head of Climate Change, from World Vision India says, “World Vision India strives to empower children with the right knowledge for environmental protection, and provides them with appropriate platforms to express their thoughts. We encourage them to take action for environmental protection and sustainable development for all.”
