Children and teenagers across Indonesia, Australia, and the Pacific are stepping up campaigns to demand that governments move beyond treating youth merely as victims of climate change and instead include them directly in policy decisions, according to recent reports from international children’s rights organizations.
The movement intensifies as nations prepare for the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP31, scheduled from November 9 to 20 in Antalya, Turkey. Save the Children is urging governments worldwide to implement practical climate actions and guarantee child rights ahead of the global summit.
Shifting Demands on Fossil Fuels and Climate Finance
To limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, organizations emphasize the need for a fair and rapid reduction in fossil fuel use and related subsidies. Countries bearing greater responsibility for climate change and possessing stronger economic capacities must expand climate financing to assist lower-income nations, according to the advocacy groups.
Another major priority involves establishing safe schools and learning environments so children can continue their education even after climate disasters strike. These demands reflect an urgent push to protect basic rights as extreme weather events disrupt schooling across vulnerable regions.
Pacific Youth Deliver Direct Petitions to Governments
Youth participation has moved from local discussions to direct political action across the Asia-Pacific region. Forty children and young people from Australia and the Pacific sent a joint letter to the Australian government on October 6, demanding that authorities turn climate commitments into tangible action.
The signatories insisted that new fossil fuel projects must align with established climate targets. They also called for adequate climate financing dedicated to securing safe drinking water, supporting agriculture, protecting coastal zones, and improving disaster preparedness in Pacific island nations.
Haruka, a 17-year-old serving as a Save the Children youth ambassador in Vanuatu, contributed to drafting the letter. Ahead of the COP31 preparatory meetings, Haruka stressed during a youth climate dialogue that international climate negotiations must reflect the specific perspectives of children and youth living across Australia and the Pacific.
Global Declarations and Domestic Policy Roundtables
Children in South Korea are likewise positioning themselves as active participants in climate solutions rather than passive observers. Save the Children Korea released the Global Child Climate Rights Declaration for Future Generations on September 17 during a climate action conference, incorporating input from children and youth across six countries, including Nepal, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, and Madagascar.
The declaration outlines the right of children to live in a healthy environment, to learn and play despite climate disruptions, and to participate in shaping climate policies. It explicitly demands that governments, corporations, schools, and international organizations factor children’s perspectives into all development projects and policy frameworks.
That same month, children from nine regions across South Korea gathered at the National Assembly Hall for the 2026 Challenge Red Velvet National Assembly Roundtable. The young delegates presented policy solutions based on climate challenges identified in their local communities. Save the Children Korea plans to compile these proposals into a joint children’s climate policy demand.
Kim Cook, Save the Children’s Pacific Regional Director, stated that children and young people are looking for actions and commitments that match the severity of the climate crisis. She emphasized that decisions shaping their futures must include the active participation of children, with their voices translating directly into policy and practice.
