Malawi National Children’s Climate Summit Opens, Children Demand Action on Climate and Rights
Lilongwe, 11th September 2024 — Malawi’s second National Children’s Climate Summit was officially opened today by the Minister of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare, Honourable Jean Muonaouza Sendeza, at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR). The event, bringing together over 150 children from across the country, highlighted the intersection of climate change and child rights, with children actively leading discussions and sharing their lived experiences.
In her opening remarks, the Minister emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change’s disproportionate effects on children.
“Children are at the frontlines of the climate crisis. The increasing frequency of droughts, floods, and extreme weather events disrupts their education, threatens their access to food and water, and undermines their health and overall well-being,” she said.
She underscored the government’s commitment to protecting children’s rights and ensuring their voices are central to climate policies, pledging to integrate children’s perspectives in Malawi’s national submission for the upcoming COP29 summit.
Save the Children’s Director of Programmes, Dr. Chakufwa Munthali, reiterated the need for child-focused climate policies.
“Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it is a child rights crisis,” Dr. Munthali said.
He stressed that children's perspectives must be part of national and global climate action, adding: “Save the Children and our partners are committed to advocating for climate financing that addresses children’s needs and ensuring the 1.5°C warming target is met.”
At the summit’s pavilions, children showcased their climate action initiatives. At the Save the Children pavilion, children demonstrated how they are using game boards to educate themselves and raise awareness about climate change.
The Minister also interacted with children who performed skits, dances, and songs on climate justice, moving the audience with powerful messages.
Esther Mbewe, delivering a statement on behalf of the children, demanded swift action to ban thin plastics.
“The continued production of these plastics violates our right to live in a clean and healthy environment,” she said, urging the government to challenge court injunctions preventing the ban on thin plastics.
The children also shared personal stories about how climate change is impacting their lives.
The event, supported by Save the Children, UNICEF, World Vision, Plan Malawi, SOS Children’s Villages, National Youth Network on Climate Change, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), and the Jesuits Centre for Ecology and Development, follows the first summit held in 2022. The two-day summit aims to ensure that children’s voices are included in national climate discussions and policies.
As the summit continues, children are expected to draft a communiqué to be incorporated into Malawi’s national climate strategies and position paper for COP29.
Honourable Sendeza assured the children that their input would be valued, stating, “You are not just the leaders of tomorrow, you are the leaders of today. Your voices will shape our country’s future.”
The summit will conclude 13th September 2024, with further deliberations on how children’s rights can be safeguarded amidst the climate crisis, and how they can contribute to global climate negotiations.
