COP29: Children in Peru demand urgent and effective policies against the climate crisis

• Children representatives warn that climate change is driving up poverty, making it harder to access food, and threatening basic rights like health and education.

Global leaders meeting at COP29 in Azerbaijan must urgently address the specific needs and demands of children. This was the rallying cry from a group of young representatives gathered in Lima, Peru, who presented a series of actions to confront the escalating climate emergency.

Peru is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with children and adolescents bearing the brunt of its impact. Speaking from personal experience, they described how this global crisis is deepening poverty, restricting access to food, worsening hunger and malnutrition, and taking a toll on their mental health.

They also shared that the climate crisis has led to more intense rainfall and flooding in some regions, while exacerbating droughts and wildfires in others.

In response, young people in Peru issued a powerful statement, demanding that the threats to their rights to health, education, and food be acknowledged and addressed. They also called for their voices to be part of the decision-making process on climate issues.

Furthermore, as part of the Generation Hope campaign, they demanded that authorities:

• Implement impactful policies for climate adaptation and mitigation.
• Create participatory councils that include children in climate-related decisions.
• Review current laws to ensure preparedness and response to natural disasters.

This declaration is the outcome of the COP Simulation, co-organized with our partner Acción por los Niños, where children had a platform to freely express their concerns and urgent demands regarding climate change.

The young attendees spoke passionately about their dreams for a future where they are guaranteed the right to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable world.

“My dream is for environmental damage to decrease so we can protect our green spaces.”

“I dream of a world where children and adolescents can achieve their dreams in places with greenery, not just buildings, where we can breathe clean air, respect Mother Earth’s rights, and live with dignity for a stable future.”

“My dream is to raise awareness among everyone, especially children and adolescents, to get involved in environmental issues and create a better, more sustainable world for all.”