COP28: Nigeria Children cries out for help as climate crisis bites harder

Rights groups insist Children are the worst hit

Ahead of the Conference of Party (COP28) Nigerian children has raised concern over the multiple effect of climate change with the call on government as well as global leaders to allocate more budget for climate activities to provide more sustainable solutions and resilient future.

The Children while speaking at a COP 28 Simulation event on Climate Change organized by Save the Children International (SCI) yesterday in Abuja stressed the need for government to set aside funds that will help tackle the current challenges.

A student of Nigerian Tulip International Colleges, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Ojukwu Miracle, said the private sector also has roles to play by planting trees

Also speaking, Nana Aisha Kabir from Kaduna Children Parliament, called on government at all levels to educate citizens on the need to build houses in highlands to avoid flooding.

She expressed worry that flood in recent times swept communities within the riverine areas making it difficult for them to go to school.

Similarly Shamiga Doose Rita from Benue Children Parliament, urged government to create opportunities green jobs in the country, stressing the need address the challenges of people displaced by floods.

Also, Osina Kaghini-nse, from Cross River Children Parliament, urged government to create alternative for fossil fuel and harped on the need to discourage deforestation in the country.

The Director, Advocacy, Campaigns, Communication and Media, Save the Children International, Nigeria, Amanuel Mamo in a remarks pointed out that children have contributed the least to the climate crisis, and yet they are paying the highest price.

Mamo further stated that due to the impact of climate change, extreme weather events will persist, new human and livestock diseases are projected to increase, new conflicts over the decreasing resources will increase and more people will be displaced by the rising oceans, floods, wildfire, drought and expanding deserts, hence the need to take an urgent action before it is too late.

Speaking at the two-day event which had in attendance State Children Parliamentarians, schools, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, and media, he said: “Climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our time. It is a grave threat to children and their rights saying child rights may may not even survive a global climate catastrophe.”

He said “We have created a huge environmental debt to our children and the future generation. Children have contributed the least to the climate crisis, and yet we know that they are paying the highest price.

While children share many of the same rights as adults, their violations due to climate change are experienced with greater severity due to their physiological and psychological vulnerabilities. In addition, children have a number of specific rights, such as the right to childhood, to primary education and to protection –all of which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.”

The SCI official said “As a part of Save the Children’s flagship campaign initiative, Generation Hope, that focuses on addressing key climate change drivers, particularly for children facing acute inequality and discrimination, we are happy to be able to organize Children’s National COP28 Simulation.

“The simulation is a unique initiative designed to amplify the voices, choices and perspectives of children in climate discussions leading up to COP28 (Conference of Parties 28), World Climate Summit.