International recommendation

Children’s rights and the environment

Issue date:
Human rights body:
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Theme:
Climate change and the environment
Populations of concern:
Children
Relevant CRC articles:
Art. 12 – Respect for children’s viewsArt. 15 – Freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assemblyArt. 17 – Access to information and materialArt. 19 – Protection from violence, abuse and neglectArt. 2 – Equality and non-discriminationArt. 24 – HealthArt. 26 – Social securityArt. 27 – Adequate standard of livingArt. 28 – EducationArt. 29 – Education and children’s developmentArt. 3 – The best interests of the childArt. 30 – Minorities and indigenous peoplesArt. 31 – Play, cultural and artistic activitiesArt. 6 – Right to life, survival and development
Source:
CRC/C/NOR/CO/7

Recommended measures (5)

Measure

Noting with concern the State Party’s ongoing and expanding oil and gas exploration, extraction and export and its current climate targets, which are not aligned with the Paris Agreement, and recalling its general comment No. 26 (2023) on children’s rights and the environment, with a special focus on climate change, the Committee recommends that the State Party:

Measure
Measure type:
Policies, strategies, and action plans
Responsible Ministries:
Ministry of Climate and EnvironmentMinistry of Energy

(a) Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the State Party’s international commitments and consider the impact of climate change on children’s rights in the State Party’s energy policy, including in relation to plans to expand oil and gas extraction

Measure
Measure type:
Policies, strategies, and action plans
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Energy

(b) Ensure that national policies related to the granting of new licences by the State Party for the exploration and production of fossil fuels is in full compliance with the rights enshrined in the Convention

Measure
Measure type:
Policies, strategies, and action plans
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Energy

(c) Urgently set out a detailed plan for phasing out fossil fuels and revise its climate and energy policies, in order to achieve a reduction in emissions of 55 per cent by 2030, in accordance with its commitments, and net-zero emissions by 2050

Measure
Measure types:
Policies, strategies, and action plansConsultation
Responsible Ministries:
Ministry of Climate and EnvironmentMinistry of Energy

(d) Ensure that children are heard and that their vulnerabilities, needs and best interests are taken into account in the development and implementation of national policies and programmes on disaster risk management, climate change and alternative energy, including national policies related to the granting of new licences and decisions concerning new extraction of fossil fuels