Bookpresentatie en debat: Children as Climate Citizens – A sociolegal approach to public participation

This event not only shines a light on the crucial role of children and young people in combating climate change but also emphasises their active participation in shaping sustainable climate policies. Importantly, the programme includes a special slot for a conversation with the audience, inviting attendees to engage directly with the speakers and contribute to the discourse.

Authored by Kata Dozsa, the book introduces the innovative concept of 'children’s climate citizenship,' proposing legal and policy tools that enable young people's involvement in global climate governance. It explores various pathways which children employ to make an impact on climate action, from participating in high-level conferences to engaging in grassroots youth movements and climate change litigation.

This event is especially relevant for students, young activists, and anyone interested in the intersection of climate change and youth participation. It offers a platform to discuss how young people can and are making a difference in the climate crisis, providing valuable insights into the advancements in law, policy, and activism driven by the younger generation.

Programme

12h30 Lunch

13h00 Introduction 

• Liliana Lizarazo Rodriguez, Research professor BSoG-Vrije Universiteit Brussel ERC Curiae Virides project 

13h10 The sociolegal concept of “children as climate citizens”

Kata Dozsa, author  
The author of the book explains the notion of “children as climate citizens”. She takes stock of the legal-policy instruments that establish or strengthen children’s right to public participation and the real-life pathways of children practicing climate citizenship in governance spaces, social movement activism litigation.

13h30 The right of children to participate in policymaking and governance processes

• Marie-Cécile Rouillon, European Commission Coordinator for the Rights of the Child (tbc)
  Climate change is one of the child-rights priorities of the European Commission. As an EU official responsible for mainstreaming children’s rights in EU law and policies, Marie-Cécile Rouillon reflects on the opportunities and the challenges of implementing child participation in governance processes.

13h45 Where are the children? – The systemic issues in institutionalised governance spaces at the UN climate conferences

• Benjamin Van Bunderen Robberecht - Climate and children’s rights activist, Belgium
  Ben (17), a young activist from Belgium gives feedback on the book’s chapter about child participation at United Nations conferences, as well as personal perspectives of representing children’s rights at the CO28 in 2023.

14h00 Changing the status quo? Trends in social movement activism and climate change litigation with children – Conversation with the audience

• Exchange of thoughts led by Liliana Lizarazo Rodriguez, Kata Dozsa and the guest speakers, on the developments and trends in children’s social movement activism as well as the phenomenon of young people shouldering the responsibility of intergenerational climate justice.