African cities can do more to protect children from climate change
Six in 10 people will be living in cities by 2030. This is concerning. Cities are responsible for over 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet cities can also do a lot to mitigate climate change and help people adapt to its impacts. Cities can use renewable energy sources, promote greener transport, and get industries to cut pollution and adopt cleaner production techniques. Also, they can form or use existing networks and partnerships to strengthen these efforts.
Almost 1 billion children – nearly half of the world’s children – live in countries that are at extremely high risk of climate change impacts. Climate change has direct and indirect impacts on children’s rights to health, life, dignity, and education. Also, climate change increases the risk of exposure to violence against children. Climate-induced disasters displace people and limit access to schools, adequate water, and nutrition. UNICEF has drawn attention to the fact that “the climate crisis is a child rights crisis”.
Recently children have taken the lead in global campaigns like School Strike for Climate and Fridays for Future in over 7,500 cities. Children are calling on political leaders to see the crisis from their perspective and take action.
Central governments are often criticized as too distant and detached from everyday realities. Whereas, city governments are closer to, and in a better position to deal with local challenges, needs, and priorities. Cities are empowered by national and local laws to govern on issues concerning children and in climate-related areas. Thus, they can plan and deliver what’s needed to address local climate challenges.
In a recent study, I explored how city-level climate law and policy protect children in the context of climate change. The study used Kenya and South Africa as key examples. In many countries, and these two countries specifically, I observed that city governments have the constitutional and legislative autonomy and obligations in climate-related functional areas such as water and sanitation. These laws and policies don’t always specifically mention children, which means the concerns of children could escape attention. I argue that cities can do more to protect children from the impacts of climate change.
Are children at the center of climate action?
The Climate Change Act (2016) of Kenya is very clear on the obligations of institutions at the city level regarding climate governance. It empowers county governments to enact laws and policies that promote city-level climate governance and to take robust climate action. Also, it obligates cities to make climate change responses an important part of their plans.
The South African Climate Change Bill empowers municipalities to adopt climate change response plans at the local level. In particular, municipalities must coordinate climate action within their jurisdiction, including mainstream climate change responses in their development plans.
The constitutions of Kenya and South Africa have explicit provisions dedicated to children’s rights. Although these constitutional children’s rights do not speak to climate change directly, the spectrum of rights guarantees children protection from the impacts of the climate crisis.
Despite these obligations of city authorities over climate action on one hand, and children on the other hand, in reality, the challenges of children do not always get attention in plans, budgets, and interventions at the city level. This is a reality in many other cities in Africa, apart from the cities in Kenya and South Africa.
The gains of child-led climate action
In 2019, for the first time, children filed a legal complaint to a UN human rights treaty body – the Committee on the Rights of the Child – about the failure of their governments to take firm climate action. The children pointed out that they lived in cities such as Cape Town (South Africa), Lagos (Nigeria), and Tabarka (Tunisia) where the impacts of climate change are on the rise.
The communication was considered inadmissible, meaning it could not be heard on the merits. Yet it was ground-breaking in making it clear that children are key actors in climate change action, deserving a seat at the table of decision-making.
The acceptance of children as key co-decision makers in climate governance is evident in their participation in global forums such as the 2021 climate conference – COP26. This is commendable. But, without robust action and engagement of children in the local sphere of government, the commitments become empty noise.
Considering the trends in urbanization, child urban population, and the climate crisis, I would urge cities to:
Expressly provide for the rights of children in climate action, particularly in law, policy, and strategies. This acts as a strong legal tool to ensure the protection and participation of children in cities.
Open or expand institutional spaces for children to participate and contribute to climate action at the city level. This could include sporting and fun activities, forums, and other opportunities for children to be engaged in the climate discourse at the community level.
Invest technical and financial resources to ensure that children have access to updated climate change educational material in child-friendly versions, and in languages that they understand.
Support child-led initiatives and campaigns. This could include capacity building, resource mobilization, and guidance for children to contribute to climate action.
Up-scale leadership and coordination of action and responses in a child-responsive and child-sensitive approach, including in climate-induced disasters. The best interests of children should be the guiding principle.
