Pat Willis Ecosystem Vision

The Guiding Principles for Children on the Move in the Context of Climate Change consists of 9 principles. These principles address the unique and multifaceted vulnerabilities of children on the move, both within the country and across borders, as a result of the adverse effects of climate change.

Currently, most immigration policies regarding children do not take into account climate and environmental factors, and most climate change policies ignore the unique needs of children.

We are of the opinion that climate change intersects with current environmental, social, political, economic and demographic conditions that contribute to people's decisions to leave. In 2020 alone, nearly 10 million children were displaced following weather-related shocks. Nearly one billion children, or nearly half of the world's 2.2 billion children, live in 33 countries at high risk for the effects of climate change, and millions more could be displaced in the coming years.

Achieving a
Sense of Success

Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions

Ecosystem Solutions

We will develop sustainable ecosystems solutions in collaboration with youth climate and migration activists, academics, experts, policy makers and practitioners. Also, the United Nations agencies and based on the globally ratified Convention on the Rights of the Child. The principles shall be shaped within existing operational guidelines and frameworks. The guiding principles provides a basis for national and local governments, international organizations and civil society groups to formulate policies that protect children’s rights. We will advocate that the relevant organizations and institutions; calls on governments, local and regional actors, international organizations and civil society groups to adopt these guidelines to help protect, engage and empower children on the move in the context of climate change.

UNICEF

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said: ‘Every day rising sea levels, hurricanes, wildfires
and wasted crops are displacing more and more children and families. Displaced children are at
greater risk of trafficking, slavery, child labour and exploitation. They are more likely to lose access to education and healthcare.

IOM

António Vitorino, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said: “The climate emergency has had and will continue to have profound effects on human mobility. The impact of this situation will be felt mostly by certain segments of society, such as children. We cannot endanger future generations. Migrant children are particularly vulnerable when acting in the context
of climate change, but their needs and aspirations are still overlooked in policy debates.

The Rapid Changing Climate

We are aware that new guidelines do not impose new legal obligations, they only highlight and reinforce fundamental principles that have already been sanctioned in international law and have been adopted by governments around the world. We urge all governments to review their policies in the light of guiding principles and to take measures now to ensure that children on the move against climate change are protected today and in the future. There have been warnings for years about the risk of mass displacement, as well as climate change and environmental degradation. These predictions have come true with climate-related migration observed around the world. There is also an increasing number of children among those taking action due to the rapidly changing climate. Although these children enjoy a range of international and national protection rights, this creates a protection gap for child migrants as the issue is highly technical and difficult to access.