COP26: Children, especially girls, need bolder action on climate crisis

12 NOVEMBER 2021

The result of COP26 negotiations need to be much bolder if we are to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis for the world’s most marginalised children, especially girls.

Reacting to the second draft of the COP26 agreement, released on the morning of Friday, November 12th, Jessica Cooke, Climate Change Policy and Advocacy Adviser for Plan International, said:

“The outcome of today’s final negotiations at COP26 is critical to the future of communities on the frontline of the climate crisis. The final text needs to be much bolder, with ambition that matches the scale of the global emergency, if we are to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis for the world’s most marginalised children, especially girls.

The outcome of today’s final negotiations at COP26 is critical to the future of communities on the frontline of the climate crisis. 

“We appreciate references to children and youth as key stakeholders, and the call for annual youth-led forums, but more must be done to meaningfully include young people in climate decision making.

“Decisions, with real life consequences now and long into the future,  are being made today. Yet so many important stakeholders have been prevented from being part of the negotiations. How can key decisions be made without those most affected in the room? The People’s Plenary today highlighted the increasing frustration by civil society and activists in the lack of ambition and urgency, but that there is power in collective action.

“The next few hours are critical. It is essential that the final deal includes higher ambition on emissions reductions, maintains language on gender and human rights, and meets previous climate finance promises to provide $100billion per year at the very least, including new and additional financing for loss and damage. Without this, the least developed countries – many of which are already dealing with the consequences of extreme weather – will be unable to adapt to the catastrophic impacts, with girls and women the hardest hit.”

Emergencies, Climate change, Climate change activism, youth empowerment

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