Prime Minister Scott Morrison must hear to the voices of children and young people ahead of the Leaders’ Summit on Climate, says Save the Children Australia.
Only 40 world leaders have been invited to attend the Leaders’ Summit on Climate hosted by the President of the United States on April 22-23, including the Australian Prime Minister.
Save the Children Australia has today launched a campaign to help amplify the voices of children and ensure their demands to Save the Planet are heard loud and clear.
Save the Children CEO, Paul Ronalds said it was time Australia’s leaders stop sidelining children and young people and start actively involving them in solving the climate crisis.
“The voices of children are compelling, and they can’t be ignored,” said Mr Ronalds.
“The climate crisis is a child rights crisis. It is not of their making, but children and young people are suffering the dire consequences of climate change.”
“If they listened to children, I have no doubt our leaders would see climate change for the existential crisis it is.”
School Striker, Stephanie, aged 17, has called on world leaders to recognise the urgency of the climate crisis.
“World leaders need to prioritise the survival of humanity over short-term profit.
“Young people have been asking world leaders to step up and take urgent climate action for years, but we can no longer just ask nicely.
“We don't have much time left. We must now demand urgent climate action.”
Climate activist, Maiysha, 20 years, urged the Prime Minister to listen to the voices of those most impacted by climate change, including young people.
“This is the opportunity for the Morrison Government to take ambitious action on climate change to secure a safe and healthy future for us.”
“By listening to the voices of those impacted by climate change, such as young people, First Nations people and regional communities, the Government can lead Australia into a clean energy era.”
The Our World, Our Say survey showed that only 13 per cent of children and young people in Australia felt they were listened to by leaders in government.
The same survey found that over 90 per cent of those young people had experienced at least one natural hazard event in the last 3 years.
The survey of 1500 children and young people aged between 10 and 24 years was conducted just after the Black Summer Bushfires.
Since that survey in 2020, thousands more children and young people in Australia have been forced from their homes because of floods, fires or cyclones. Their schools have been damaged or destroyed and their education disrupted because of climate change.
ENDS
Media contact: Jess Brennan on 0421 334 918 / media.team@savethechildren.org.au