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Children’s voices and the climate crisis: a report from the RCPCH
  1. Maria Gogou1,2,
  2. Shveta Chana1,3,
  3. Solomon Kamal-Uddin1,
  4. Sijia Yao1,
  5. Katy Rose1,4
  1. 1Climate Change Working Group, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, London, UK
  2. 2Great Ormond Street Hospital for children, London, UK
  3. 3Paediatrics, Milton Keynes University Hospital, Milton Keynes, UK
  4. 4Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Maria Gogou; mariaangogou{at}gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2024-327387

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    The understanding of the extent and long-term magnitude of climate crisis continues to evolve. Alongside, there is ever-growing evidence that the crisis is having detrimental effects on children and young people’s (CYP) health and well-being. Beyond placing them at risk for a broad spectrum of diseases, it is challenging the very essence of CYP’s fundamental rights to survival, safety, good health, education and nutrition, as enshrined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child.1 2

    The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is the membership body of paediatricians in the UK and its mission is to improve standards of care for children worldwide, by equipping paediatricians with skills and knowledge, shaping policy and advocating for child health issues. In 2020, the RCPCH declared a climate emergency. They formed a climate change working group and introduced a plan for action; to minimise the impact of climate crisis and promote a future which benefits CYP, including them in creating the solutions. As part of this response, a report entitled ‘Preserving the World for Future Generations Report’ was commissioned.3

    The aim of this report was to shed light on international CYP’s understanding of climate change and to capture their current real-life experiences. It was also to explore their perceptions about future challenges and present their suggestions for action. The methodology included two parts:

    1. A literature review focused on views and priorities of CYP worldwide and using a wide range or sources (94,400 CYP voices aggregated from 38 sources).

    2. Engagement activities organised by the RCPCH focused on CYP in the UK (1274 voices aggregated from activities including roadshows, projects, engagement discussions).

    Qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyse and synthesise information and findings from the literature review and the voicebank.

    In this viewpoint article, we highlight and summarise …

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    Footnotes

    • X @MariaGogou6

    • Contributors KR conceived the idea, wrote part of the manuscript, edited and reviewed the manuscript. MG wrote part of the manuscript, reviewed the manuscript, edited and submitted the manuscript. SC, SY and SK-U wrote part of the manuscript, edited and reviewed the manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.