Kenya has become the 80th country to sign the Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action, committing the government to protecting young people from the growing effects of climate change and giving them a greater voice in environmental decision-making.

Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Dr Deborah Mlongo Barasa signed the declaration during a meeting with UNICEF Kenya Representative Dr Shaheen Nilofer, marking a significant step towards integrating children’s rights and interests into national climate policies.

The declaration, launched in 2019 during the 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Spain, recognizes that children and young people bear a disproportionate burden of climate change despite contributing least to the problem.

Floods, droughts and other extreme weather events continue to threaten children’s health, education and livelihoods, while disrupting their overall well-being and exposing vulnerable communities to heightened risks.

Through the signing, Kenya has committed to incorporating children’s right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment into national climate policies and programmes.

The commitments also include increased investment in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness, alongside expanded access to climate education to equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to respond to environmental challenges.

The declaration further calls for meaningful participation of children and young people in climate decision-making, including United Nations climate negotiations and the implementation of Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The Ministry will work with UNICEF, youth-led organisations, local communities and international partners to translate the commitments into practical interventions addressing the needs and priorities of young people.

The partnership is expected to strengthen efforts to ensure that children are not merely beneficiaries of climate protection programmes but active participants in shaping policies and solutions for a sustainable future.

The signing also reinforces the importance of intergenerational climate justice, recognizing that decisions made today will have far-reaching consequences for future generations.

Kenya’s entry as the 80th signatory places the country among nations committing to put children and young people at the centre of climate action, environmental protection and efforts to build climate-resilient communities.

by Joseph Ng’ang’a