The Assembly believes that the Council of Europe should support
a cross-sectoral approach to dealing with climate change, environmental
threats and the right to a healthy environment, and should involve
children whenever possible in its work on these issues. It therefore
recommends the Committee of Ministers to ensure that:
2.1 the Council of Europe Strategy
for the Rights of the Child 2022-2027 contains a reference to the impact
of climate change and environmental threats on children’s rights,
and that the connected action plan promotes child participation
in addressing these challenges at various levels of governance across Europe;
2.2 meaningful child participation is mainstreamed into all
Council of Europe work on countering climate change and environmental
threats, and on anchoring the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable
environment in Council of Europe instruments and action;
2.3 in the absence of a legally binding definition of climate
or environmental refugees, member States collaborate towards establishing
such a legal status at international and European levels and adequately protect
the victims of forced migration due to climate change and environmental
degradation, in particular children;
2.4 member States are reminded of their common but differentiated
responsibilities in addressing climate change and enact ambitious
plans to honour their international commitments – including assistance
to the poorest and most climate-vulnerable countries to help them
adapt to climate change, reduce its adverse effects on children
and cope with the ecological crisis – under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child.
