Young journalists secure an interview with UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband on the road to Copenhagen

December 2009: Eleven Plan-supported young journalists from across the globe have grilled world leaders on their plans to tackle climate change at the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (12 – 19 December).

The young journalists from Indonesia, Kenya, Netherlands, Sweden and the UK have all been trained by Plan in media skills and attended press conferences and interviewed key delegates. Read their reports below.

Speaking out

The right for children to participate in decisions that affect their lives is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - but all too often their involvement is limited or non-existent.

The young journalists ensured that their voices, and questions from other children, were heard at the climate change talks.

Meet the young journalists and learn about their goals.

Read how the young journalists made a big media impact at Copenhagen.

Download the main tool that Plan and the youth representatives used at the conference: Global Warning: Children’s Right to be heard in Global Climate Change Negotiations (545kb | 19 pages)

Young journalist reports

Give young people access to talks, say Indonesian officials

The Indonesian dignitaries at the Copenhagen summit expressed their surprise that children and young people were stopped from accessing the talks.

‘Hope for a deal is up to the children’  Maldives president tells young reporters

The leader of one of the islands most threatened by climate change said children can play a key part in clinching a deal at Copenhagen.

Al Gore defends Obama's climate change work

International climate campaigner Al Gore has hit out at critics of the US government who say the superpower is still not doing enough to tackle climate change.

Island nations demand ocean protection

Protecting the oceans must not be overlooked in the fight against climate change, the Indonesian head of a new coalition of island nations told the Copenhagen talks.

'Get out the way elders,' Tutu tells conference

Archbishop Desmond Tutu today praised young people for fighting for climate justice in Copenhagen.

UK energy minister "frustrated" by talks

As the climate change talks in Copenhagen continue, young journalists Aakash and Annie tracked down and questioned the minister leading the negotiations for the UK.