In May 2023, the Committee on the Rights of the Child adopted General Comment No. 26 on the right of the child to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, with a focus on climate. In this important Comment, the Committee formally recognises the right of children to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, as well as the importance of this right for the realisation of all other rights enshrined in the Convention. On the one hand, children should be protected from any harm caused by environmental degradation and, specifically, climate change and, on the other hand, children have the right to participate as environmental actors, learning about climate change and having the right to participate in actions to fight against it. 16,331 contributions from children were received in the drafting of the General Comment.

An animation of the child-friendly version is available https://youtu.be/88ytWDLmyC8

The General Comment is available in various languages.