Newsletters
December Newsletter
This newsletter was first sent by email to the members of our Research Network. If you would like to be part of it, sign up here.
As we wrap up the year, we are delighted to share with you the 7th newsletter of our Youth Climate Justice Research Network.
This network emerged from the Youth Climate Justice project at University College Cork. Led by Prof. Aoife Daly and funded by the European Research Council (ERC), we are a team of researchers dedicated to understanding children's and young people’s climate action across different countries and its implications for human rights law. This newsletter is prepared by Florencia Paz Landeira. You can find more about the project and the team on our website.
As this is our final newsletter of 2024, we would like to take a moment to thank you for your continued engagement, contributions, and enthusiasm. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a wonderful start to the new year!
Project News
This month, the Youth Climate Justice team has been actively advancing its mission to explore and promote child and youth engagement in climate justice:
- Youth Climate Justice Highlighted at the UN: Team member Katie Reid delivered a powerful statement to the United Nations Aarhus Convention Taskforce in Geneva, emphasising the importance of empowering young voices in environmental decision-making processes. Read more about this impactful moment here.
- Child Parliamentarians and Climate Justice: In this insightful blog by Omar, a Young Advisor to the project, the role of child parliamentarians in shaping climate justice is explored, highlighting the importance of intergenerational collaboration in decision-making. Learn more here.
- Are COP Talks Fit for Purpose?: Sumaya, a member of the Advisory Board, climate advocate, and UCC student, critically examines whether the COP processes are adequately addressing the needs of children and youth. Her reflections shed light on the inclusivity challenges in global climate negotiations. Read her blog here.
- Child and Youth Friendly Justice for the Climate Crisis: Prof. Aoife Daly’s recent article, Child and Youth Friendly Justice for the Climate Crisis: Relying on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, continues to gain recognition. This work, recently highlighted in a dedicated blog, explores how the UNCRC can shape more inclusive legal systems for youth-led climate action. Read the blog summary here.
Online Research Forums: A Look Back at 2024
As we approach the end of the year, we want to take a moment to reflect on the enriching Online Research Forums we held throughout 2024. These forums have been a cornerstone of our network, offering a space to come together, share ideas, and deepen our understanding of youth climate justice. The recordings of our previous research forum are available here.
We are deeply grateful to all the guest speakers who generously shared their knowledge and insights:
- Elisa Morgera: "What is the role of the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights in relation to children's human rights?"
- Youth Climate Justice team: "Child/Youth Climate Action and the Relevance of Research."
- Ruona Qi (Tsaruun): “Indigenous People's Rights in the Territorialization Process of World Heritage Sites in Inner Mongolia, China.”
- Débora Gerbaudo-Suárez: “Youth alliances and intersectionality of climate justice in Buenos Aires, Argentina.”
- Benjamin Bowman: “A different end of the world is possible”: grief, uncertainty and hope in young people’s climate action.
- Aoife Nolan: "‘Democracy through the Courts? Children and Future Generations’ Rights in Climate Justice Litigation’."
We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you -our network members- who participated with thoughtful questions, comments, and reflections. Your contributions are what make these forums a vibrant and essential space for collaborative thinking and shared learning.
We are excited to resume in February and continue building this community together.
Youth Climate Applications/Litigation
#CancelCoal Climate Case: In a landmark ruling, the High Court of South Africa has declared the government’s plans to add 1,500 MW of new coal-fired power to the national grid unconstitutional. The court found that the government failed to assess the environmental and health impacts, particularly on children. The ruling, a significant victory for climate activists, sets a precedent for future challenges to environmentally harmful projects and emphasizes the importance of transparent, participatory decision-making. More details are available on the African Climate Alliance blog.
Palauan Youth File UN Complaint Against the US Military: A group of Palauan youth has filed a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council, alleging that the US military's activities in Palau violate their human rights. The youth argue that the destruction of ecosystems and pollution caused by military operations contribute to climate change and infringe on their rights to health, culture, and a sustainable environment. Read more here.
Reynolds v. State of Florida – New Amended Complaint Filed: Plaintiffs in the Reynolds v. State of Florida case, which challenges Florida’s fossil fuel-driven policies, have filed an amended complaint following a previous dismissal. The plaintiffs argue that Florida’s failure to address climate change violates their constitutional rights to a safe and healthy environment. Learn more about the revised filing here.
Juliana v. United States – Petition Filed for Supreme Court Review: The plaintiffs in the landmark Juliana v. United States case have filed a petition for certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court. This follows the Ninth Circuit’s decision to block the case, which argues that the U.S. government’s promotion of fossil fuels violates young people’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property. The petition seeks the Supreme Court’s intervention to allow the case to proceed. Details about the filing are available here.
Bloom and Others v. TotalEnergies: Three NGOs -BLOOM, Alliance Santé Planétaire, and Nuestro Futuro- and eight individual plaintiffs, many of whom are young people, have filed a criminal complaint against TotalEnergies' directors and shareholders. The plaintiffs allege that the company's fossil fuel projects contribute significantly to climate change, causing environmental harm and violating human rights. They seek to hold the company's leadership criminally liable for decisions made despite knowing the potential for significant casualties and environmental damage.
Open Calls
Secondary schools interested in exploring meaningful, learner-centred approaches to climate action may find the Climate Action Short Course of interest. Designed to challenge greenwashing and address the root causes of climate change, this course supports Junior Cycle students and their teachers through over 100 hours of critical questioning, collaboration, consensus-building, and place-based action. Now entering its Pilot Phase after three years of development with 40 schools, it invites expressions of interest for participation in 2025.
For more details, visit www.climateactionshortcourse.ie or contact Nancy Serrano and Kathryn Mc Cabe at info@climateactionshortcourse.ie.
Publications
Article: The materiality of youth representation at climate summits: navigating barriers, routes, and spaces, by Frida Buhre & Jonathan Josefsson.
Article: The Need for a Double Kinship: Children's Literature, Intergenerational Relationships, and Climate Change, by Vanessa Joosen
Article: Child and youth welfare and the climate crisis – conceptual enlargements from eco-social work and socio-spatial approaches, by Christian Spatscheck.
Article: The Fundamental Right of Children to Participate in Climate Change Decision-Making Processes: A South African Perspective, by Mildred Bekink.
Article: Appraising the Impact of Environmental Pollution on Children’s Rights: The Role of Law, by Chinazor Queen Umeobika & Godstime Nwaeze.
Book chapter: Climate Change, Environmental Stressors, and Child Labor: The (In)Visible Links, by Kaleb A. Mwendwa, Catherine M. Aurah, Rose Atieno Opiyo & Ajwang’ Warria.
Thesis: Oil extractivism and the forgotten rights of children: a mixed-method study of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline and its impacts on children’s rights, by Lucilla Viola.