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 (4)

Measure
Measure type:
Policies, strategies, and action plans

The Committee notes with concern the State Party’s ongoing and expanding oil and gas exploration, extract and export and with current climate targets misaligned with the Paris agreement. 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 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

The Committee recommends that the State Party ensure that national policies related to the granting of new licenses 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

The Committee recommends that the State Party urgently set out a detailed plan for fossil fuels phase out and revise its climate and energy policies, in order to achieve a 55 percent emissions reduction by 2030 as per its commitments and net-zero emissions by 2050.

Measure
Measure types:
Policies, strategies, and action plansConsultation

The Committee recommends that the State Party 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 licenses and decisions concerning new fossil fuel extraction.