Hedef Kitle: Ages 9+
İçerik Dili:
Özet:
Tahmini Okuma Süresi: 4 dakika
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child is preparing a General Comment on children’s rights and the climate crisis. BİLGİ Child Studies Unit came together with young people to both inform them about this issue and hear their thoughts. 2 meetings were held with 30 young people between the ages of 14-18. With this first article, we would like to share with you the issues emphasized by the young people at the meetings, with quotations from them, and to offer an invitation to young people in the 14-18 age group who want to write about this subject.
When we asked the young people we met at the meetings how the climate crisis affected them, one of the answers we got was as follows:
“Although children have no impact on the emergence of the climate crisis, their living space and future are affected.”
Some of the young people who attended the meetings talked about their anxiety:
“I am a child, but right now I have to worry about my future and do something.”
“You have to leave a good world to future generations. When I reach a certain age, I should have an employment opportunity. If this world is a world where so many resources are depleted, how will you leave me a good future? This use of non-renewable energy threatens my future, not yours! The climate crisis limits children’s rights in the future. I’m worried.”
Along with these concerns, they drew attention to the need to do something about this issue in order to defend their right to life:
“Working on the climate crisis has become a necessity for children, as it affects children’s futures. I feel compelled to claim my right to life.”
Young people stated that they also experienced health problems in addition to their anxiety and anxiety:
“I am allergic to certain plastics. Doctors always said that I could recover by moving away from the city and going to a place where the climate was not deteriorating. The city is ruining my health. I no longer use airplanes. I changed my clothes. Tackling the climate crisis has affected my life in many ways.”
Pointing out that the crisis has deepened existing inequalities, the youth emphasized that it will have different effects on children all over the world:
“Disasters caused by the climate crisis will affect children all over the world. Of course, children in all parts of the world will not be equally affected.”
“The climate crisis is killing a certain population. The climate crisis is causing an increase in child labor in underdeveloped countries. People are starting to die prematurely from various deficiencies, causing child labor to be reduced to young ages. In this sense, the climate crisis affects children’s rights. “
“The climate crisis is affecting certain countries much more. When countries that are more affected by this are not economically strong, children cannot reach their right to health and their rights are violated.”
Although efforts are made to prevent the climate crisis, it is on the agenda of young people that decision makers fulfill their responsibilities and keep their promises:
“Even if the children’s words are heard, the necessary is not done. Countries make promises, sign the Paris agreement, but ignore children’s demands because of their interests.”
While talking about the negative effects of the climate crisis, young people also emphasize the importance of speaking out and taking action, and they maintain their hopes for the future:
“We see that our demands are not taken into account in the climate crisis, but it is still very important not to lose hope against them and still continue to work.”
In the next article, we will discuss what young people need about the climate crisis and what they expect from the state, media, private sector and citizens.
We also have a call to all children who have something to say about the climate crisis. You can share with us what you want to write about it. You can contact the BİLGİ Child Studies Unit team by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. We look forward to your articles.
Drawings by Ceren Suntekin
*This project was supported by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
