Climate change threatens our biodiversity and livelihoods: children and youth deliver a manifesto for climate justice at COP16

In front of several government officials and other organizations, such as Vice President Francia Márquez, Vice Minister of Environmental Policy and Standardization Mauricio Cabrera, Unicef Colombia Representative Tanya Chapuisat and ICBF Director Astrid Cáceres, among others, several children and young people delivered a manifesto for biodiversity conservation, climate justice and gender equality this week during the Biodiversity Summit (COP16).

The document gathers the visions of nearly a thousand children and young people from Colombia and other countries who participated in the National and Global Summits of Children and Youth for Biodiversity, held in Cali from October 16 to 21. In these spaces, children proposed sustainable solutions to various environmental problems, such as climate change.

"We, the children, adolescents and young people of Colombia who participated in the National Summit Route, raise our voices to express our commitment to the protection of biodiversity, the fight against climate change and respect for the rights of communities that depend on and live in harmony with nature," the declaration reads.

Among other things, the document calls for: a direct and constructive dialogue with the country's decision-makers; an education that incorporates knowledge and technology for the benefit of life and biodiversity; respect and consideration of young people's opinions; a clean, healthy and safe environment. In addition, the youngest children propose actions to help preserve the planet, such as promoting conscious and sustainable consumption by minimizing the generation of solid waste and applying the concepts of the circular economy and best practices for waste management.

"Climate change threatens our biodiversity and our way of life. Climate change is a latent global problem that affects our communities regardless of social and economic conditions, causing floods, landslides, loss of crops and species, and droughts, among other impacts. As temperatures rise, our animal and plant species are at risk of disappearing. Yet we see how practices such as deforestation, excessive use of pesticides, and pollution of all kinds continue to exacerbate this crisis," the document continues.

In this regard, Vice President Francia Márquez emphasized the importance of generating leadership from the younger generations. "I would not have arrived here without the of my people and the women with whom I have walked for so many years. My message to the girls, boys and young people: do not be blinded by egos, by vanities, because they obscure the dreams and hopes that you carry in your heart. You must have a good heart," said Marquez.

For her part, the representative of Unicef Colombia, Tanya Chapuisat, advocated for more spaces of this kind that allow children to be heard. "Children and adolescents must effectively participate in discussions on climate and biodiversity. Unicef wants to ensure that their voices are part of all policies and decisions," she said.

In this regard, Wendy Aumedo, a youth leader from northern Córdoba, emphasized that the space allowed them to show the country's leaders directly what children are demanding today. "We are girls and women defenders of life. Being in this space with decision-makers shows that it is worth having hope and working for our territory and our rights," said the young woman.

EDWIN CAICEDO

Environmental and Health Journalist

@CaicedoUcros