Decisions and statements of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

 

Decision of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on the responsibility of States parties for carbon dioxide emissions

(12.10.2021)

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child examined a petition filed by 16 children against a number of states in the autumn of 2021. In its historic ruling, the Committee found that a State party can, subject to certain conditions, be held responsible for the negative impact of its carbon emissions on the rights of children.

• Simplified version of the decision of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and letter to the children who filed the petition (unofficial Finnish translation, pdf)
• Simplified version of the decision and letter (original, pdf)
• Full decision of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

 

Statement on the impact of climate change on children

(20.11.2021)

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Children’s Environmental Rights Initiative (CERI) and Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action have published a joint statement on the impact of climate change on children and children’s rights, safety and well-being on World Children’s Day 2021.

• Original statement (pdf)
• Joint statement on the centrality of children in climate action (unofficial Finnish translation, pdf)