Children and Climate Justice : A New Perspective on the Role of Children as Leaders in a Worldwide

This research explores how international mechanisms for justice have evolved to empower children, focusing on the recent landmark case brought by 15 children before the CRC Committee on climate change. It examines the significant strides made in providing children with avenues to address rights violations, highlighting their role as active agents rather than passive victims. Children often struggle to access justice due to their limited legal capacity. However, the development of international mechanisms, such as the new complaint system before the CRC Committee, has provided significant opportunities for addressing violations of their rights. A landmark case involving 15 children who brought a climate change complaint exemplifies this progress, demonstrating that children can be powerful advocates. Their activism, including global climate strikes and petitions, reflects a shift towards recognizing children not just as vulnerable individuals but as rights holders and proactive agents of change in environmental and social justice.