By Jeff Kapembwa
Children on the continent, have sounded a clarion call for leaders on the continent to prioritise climate action and recognize that climate change is a child rights emergency.
In a solidarity message urging leaders to ensure the crisis was mitigated without further delay, as evidenced by the damage and impact it has had on the planet, humanity and the environment, the children demand an inclusive climate action to save the youth and future generation.
The children’s climate action message presented to the African leaders during the 2nd Africa climate summit hosted by Addis Ababa, seeks full protection of their rights. The children seek 30 percent representation in climate decision making.
There is a need for schools, hospitals and communities to be built to withstand climate disasters, clean water, nutritious food and access to renewable energy, funding for youth led climate projects while there be sustained support to mental health for those facing climate anxiety.
They seek protection of their rights, strengthen education systems, and empower the children across Africa especially those who are marginalized communities and children with disabilities.
The children, represented by Save the Children Organisation, called on leaders on the continent to recognize that climate change is a child rights emergency. Climate change disrupts education, threatens health and deepens inequality.
In seeking to appreciate the impact of climate change, the children seek education authorities to incorporate it in the syllabus and make it a ‘climate literacy green’ and it be integrated into the education curriculum with teachers expected to lead by example.
Every school should be made climate resilient, powered by clean energy and equipped with adequate water and sanitation services. Ensure Food security and health, as enshrined in the UNCRC, article 27 demanding that children be given rights to food.
The campaign seeks to influence leaders to reintegrate and rehabilitate children displaced by the climate crisis. It calls for durable solutions which will serve as a pathway for millions of children displaced and migrating due to the climate crisis.
There is an urgent need for regional collaboration with every state striving to work collaboratively and ensure that child consultations inform policies that are also child friendly and include language we understand.
It seeks improved budgetary allocation by all states to support climate financing and in turn support child-led climate solutions while seeking inclusivity of children to represent themselves on matters affecting them and related to climate change.
“We, the children of Africa, want children’s representation in climate policy, financing and solutions.”
The children commend Ethiopia for its bold action to make the country resistant to climate shocks through the “Green Legacy Initiative” which the children seek to be emulated by other states infighting climate change.
“Ethiopia is an example of how action can change the present and the future. If Prime Minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed hadn’t started the Green Legacy initiative 7 years ago, today we could not be speaking of Africa climate change issues at ACS 2.”
Save the Children, in solidarity with the childr4en during the summit, support the call for children to be saved from climate induced actions. The children’s health and climate change are deeply connected. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall, and new disease patterns all directly affect children’s well-being.
Save the Children, joined the Climate and Health Forum held alongside the Tanzania Health Summit 2025 at a summit supported by Amplify Health and Development in Africa (AHDA), and brought together key stakeholders to discuss solutions that protect communities and children.
“At Save the Children, we recognize that tackling climate change is essential to keeping children safe, healthy, and thriving.” It said in a statement.
Contrasting the children’s call for increased budgetary allocation to help fight climate change, Zambia’s budgetary allocation towards climate change fight remains at 0.6 percent, inspite of severe threats abound.
Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane in unveiling the ZMK253 billion (US$105 billion) budget recently, allocated ZMK1,574,415,347 for environmental protection, representing a paltry 0.6%, an allocation which has reflected in several years.
This is despite looming climate change effects including the forecast normal to above normal rains expected in the Southern African region which is expected to cause flash floods and other hailstorms.