UN Guidance on Child’s Rights and Environment

UN Guidance on Child’s Rights and Environment

News: The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has issued ground-breaking guidance, General Comment No. 26, recognizing children’s rights to a clean and sustainable environment, with a focus on climate change.

About UNCRC:
• UNCRC, adopted in 1989, outlines children’s rights, including life, health, clean drinking water, and survival and development. It is ratified by 196 state parties (including India).
• CRC is the body of 18 independent experts that monitors the implementation of the UNCRC by its state parties

Key Points:
• UN recognizes children’s right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Special emphasis on addressing climate change impacts on children.
• General Comment No. 26 provides the legal foundation to tackle environmental degradation and climate change’s effects on children’s rights.
• Member states are urged to take necessary measures to protect children’s rights from climate changerelated harm caused by businesses. Priority on establishing inclusive early warning systems to safeguard children from extreme weather impacts. Developed nations are urged to provide grants instead of loans to prevent negative impacts on children’s rights.
• Insufficient progress in achieving international climate commitments endangers children. It urges rapid and effective emissions reductions to protect children’s rights and prevent irreversible environmental damage.