Save the Children in partnership with UNICEF organised a Children’s Advocacy Event on climate change on November 2, aiming to amplify youth voices as Rwanda prepares for COP29 which will take place in Azerbaijan this month. The event focused on the impact of climate change on children and underscored the importance of including their perspectives in national and global climate discussions. In her remarks, Maggie Korde, Country Representative for Save the Children, stressed that climate change impacts children globally, calling for child protection to be prioritised in climate decisions. ALSO READ: COP29: Rwanda advocates for doubling of climate change adaptation finance She added: “Our desire is to ensure that child protection is at the centre of decision-making when it comes to climate, and that we as adults are not making decisions on their behalf.” She noted that climate change is not a distant threat, referencing data that shows 774 million children are already facing the immediate dangers of climate risks and poverty. “Only 2.4 per cent of climate finance is currently child-responsive,” she added, stressing the need to better allocate resources to address these urgent challenges. Korde also emphasised Save the Children’s priorities: increasing child-focused climate financing, ensuring children’s participation in climate discussions, and developing policies that address their needs, stressing the importance of dedicated funding for climate-related losses and damages. She also addressed the need for authentic child participation and called for ambitious steps to ensure national climate policies are “child-responsive and include child-relevant sectors.” ALSO READ: Climate change could erode 7% of Rwanda’s GDP by 2050 Blessed Alliance Sangwa, a young voice from Nyamagabe District, shared her experience growing up in an area vulnerable to natural disasters. She said: “Soil erosion destroyed our farms, which helped pay for our school fees and daily needs. This destruction made it increasingly difficult to afford school equipment and food. The erosion also damaged roads, making it very difficult for children with disabilities to get to school. “For our voices to be heard, we would like to have representatives in climate discussions like COP, so they can share our ideas and keep us informed on the outcomes of these discussions. After attending the African Climate Summit in Nairobi, she realised children’s views are essential in fighting climate change effects,” she added. Sangwa emphasised the need for stronger support for school environmental clubs, a requirement set by the Ministry of Environment. She called for increased funding to help more schools participate and enable children to contribute actively to environmental protection. Philippe Kwitonda, the Director General in Charge of Land, Water, and Forestry at Rwanda’s Ministry of Environment, emphasised the importance of including children's voices in climate discussions. “Climate change affects everyone, including children, and they bring valuable perspectives. Children are asking, ‘We face disasters that may be stronger than what adults experience, how can our views be heard?’” Kwitonda explained that as Rwanda prepares to send a delegation to COP29, it’s crucial that children’s ideas are represented alongside those of other stakeholders. “When COP29 happens, the country will take different perspectives, including those of children, for discussion. This isn’t just about today’s event, the government has created various channels to ensure children’s ideas are recognised,” he said, adding that there are policies in place to elevate children's views. Leon Muwoni, UNICEF Rwanda’s Chief of Child Protection, emphasised the critical need to bring children’s perspectives to the forefront of climate discussions as Rwanda prepares for COP29. We need to ensure that Rwanda's representation at COP29 is not only about what adults think, but also about the people who are impacted by climate change who are the children themselves,” he said. Muwoni added: “The government has put in place policies, implementation mechanisms, and an enabling environment for all players to actively engage in climate efforts. “There is more to do, especially in terms of government-driven climate financing and sectoral support to address both current and future challenges,” he added.
