The Fundamental Right of Children to Participate in Climate Change Decision-Making Processes: A South African Perspective

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2024/v27i0a18350

Keywords:

Climate change, environmental impact on children , children's right to be heard, Article 12 of the Convention on the Right of the Child , Article 4.2 of the African Charter on the Rights and the Welfare of the Child , Sacchi v Argentina , section 10 of the Children's Act

Abstract

Climate change poses severe threats to the enjoyment of a wide array of human rights, such as the right to health, survival and development including, in extreme cases, the enjoyment of life itself. Due to their specific physiology, children are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change; even more so than adults. Though climate change affects children more than adults, their inclusion in climate action policy and decision-making at local, national and international levels has been limited. Notwithstanding, children have a right to be heard on actions that affect them. States are the primary duty bearers of children's rights and are obliged not only to protect children from current and foreseeable adverse effects due to climate change, but also to ensure that children can exercise their participatory rights meaningfully. Considering this important duty and the global trend by children, including South African children, towards claiming their environmental participation rights, this contribution sets out to explore whether the South African legislative framework provides for children to participate meaningfully and effectively in climate change action. The South African legislative framework is assessed against the backdrop of international documents affording children participatory rights to determine South Africa's compliance with international and regional standards.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

  • Mildred Bekink, University of South Africa

    BA BA Hons LLB (Unisa), LLM (cum laude)  (Pret) LLD (Unisa). Associate Professor at the Department of Mercantile Law, College of Law, University of South Africa.

References

Bibliography

Literature

Andersen CS and Dolva AS ʺChildren's Perspective on Their Right to Participate in Decision-Making According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 12ʺ 2015 Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics 218-230

Arts K ʺChildren's Rights and Climate Changeʺ in Fenton-Glynn C (ed) Children's Rights and Sustainable Development: Interpreting the UNCRC for Future Generations (Cambridge University Press Cambridge 2019) 216-235

Atapattu S UN Human Rights Institutions and the Environment Synergies, Challenges and Trajectories (Routledge London 2023)

Boezaart T ʺGeneral Principlesʺ in Davel CJ and Skelton AM Commentary on the Children's Act (Juta Claremont rev service 9 2018) 2-1 – 2-41

Boshoff E ʺProtecting the African Child in a Changing Climate: Are Our Existing Safeguards Adequate?ʺ 2017 African Human Rights Yearbook 23-40

Boshoff E and Damtew SG ʺThe Potential of Litigating Children's Rights in the Climate Crisis Before the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Childʺ 2022 AHRLJ 328-361

Chirwa D ʺThe Merits and Demerits of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Childʺ 2002 Int'l J Children's Rts 157-177

Du Toit C ʺLegal Representation of Childrenʺ in Boezaart T (ed) Child Law in South Africa 2nd ed (Juta Claremont 2017) 108-132

Fambasayi R and M Addaney M ʺCascading Impacts of Climate Change and the Rights of Children in Africa: A Reflection on the Principle of Intergenerational Equityʺ 2021 AHRLJ 23-45

Forde L et al The Right of Children to Participate in Public Decision-Making Processes (Save the Children International London 2020)

Freeman M ʺThe Future of Children's Rightsʺ 2000 Children and Society 277-293

Godfrey S and Tunhuma FA The Climate Crisis: Climate Change Impacts, Trends and Vulnerabilities of Children in Sub Sahara Africa (UN Children's Fund Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office Nairobi 2020)

Henaghan M ʺArticle 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: Where Have We Come from, Where Are We Now and Where to from Here?ʺ 2017 Int'l J Children's Rts 537-552

James A and Jørgensen NJ ʺMaking Space for Children's Voices in Climate Actionʺ 2022 NORRAG 104-107

Kaime T The Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Cultural Legitimacy Critique (Europa Law Groningen 2011)

Kapell A A COP Fit for Children: How to Support Children's Participation (Save the Children International London 2022)

Kloosterboer K ʺTo be Heard and Seen: Youth Participation as a Goal and as a Means to Improve Children's Rights Situationsʺ in Liefaard T and Sloth-Nielsen J (eds) The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Brill Leiden 2017) 736-752

Kotzé LJ and Du Plessis A ʺPutting Africa on the Stand: A Bird's Eye View of Climate Change Litigation on the Continentʺ 2020 Environmental Law 615-663

Lloyd ʺEvaluation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the African Committee of Experts: Raising the Gauntletʺ 2002 Int'l J Children's Rts 179-198

Lundy L ʺ'Voice' is not Enough: Conceptualising Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Childʺ 2007 British Educational Research Journal 927-942

Mahery P ʺThe United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Maintaining its Value in International and South African Lawʺ in Boezaart T (ed) Child Law in South Africa (Juta Claremont 2009) 309-330

McGillivray A ʺTales of the Apocalypse: The Child's Right to a Secure Climateʺ 2017 Int'l J Children's Rts 553-568

Mezmur BD ʺThe Calm Before the Storm? Child Rights Climate Litigation in Africaʺ 2023 De Jure 543-568

Mezmur BD ʺThe United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Childʺ in Boezaart T (ed) Child Law in South Africa 2nd ed (Juta Claremont 2017) 403-424

Schäfer LI Child Law in South Africa (LexisNexis Durban 2011)

Skelton A ʺChild Rights Jurisprudence Without Borders: Developments in Extraterritorial Jurisdiction" 2023 De Jure 606-624

Skelton A ʺConstitutional Protection of Children's Rightsʺ in Boezaart T (ed) Child Law in South Africa 2nd ed (Juta Claremont 2017) 327-358

Sloth-Nielsen J ʺAfrican Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Childʺ in Boezaart T (ed) Child Law in South Africa 2nd ed (Juta Claremont 2017) 426-442

Sloth-Nielsen J ʺRatification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Some Implications for South African Lawʺ 1995 SAJHR 401-420

Tigre M and Lichet V ʺThe CRC Decision in Sacchi v Argentinaʺ 2021 American Society of International Law Insight 1-7

Case law

African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

Project Expedite Justice v Republic of Sudan (Communication No.0011/Com/001/2018) [2018] ACERWC 1 (26 August 2018) Decision on Admissibility No:001/2019

South Africa

African Climate Alliance v Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy (56907/21) [2022] ZAGPPHC 946 (9 December 2022)

B v B (602/11) [2012] ZASCA 151 (28 September 2012)

Banyantane v Banyantane 2003 3 SA 363 (CC)

Bhe v Magistrate, Kayelitsha 2005 1 SA 580 (CC)

Centre for Child Law v the Governing Body of Hoërskool Fochville 2016 2 SA 121 (SCA)

Christian Education South Africa v Minister of Education 2000 4 SA 757 (CC)

De Groot v De Groot (ECP) (unreported) case number 3690/09 of 2010

DPP v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development 2009 2 SACR 130 (CC)

Germani v Herf 1975 4 SA 887 (A)

Government of the Republic of South Africa v Grootboom 2001 1 SA 46 (CC)

Greenshields v Wyllie1983 4 SA 898 (W)

HG v CG 2010 3 SA 352 (ECP)

Legal Aid Board v R 2009 2 SA 262 (D)

Lubbe v Du Plessis 2001 4 SA 57 (C)

Matthews v Matthews 1983 4 SA 136 (SE)

MEC for Education, KwaZulu-Natal v Pillay 2007 2 SA 106 (CC)

S v M 2007 2 SACR 539 (CC)

S v M (Centre for Child Law as Amicus Curiae) 2008 3 SA 232 (CC)

S v Makwanyane 1995 3 SA 391 (CC)

Soller v G 2003 5 SA 430 (W)

Legislation

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996

Children's Act 38 of 2005

Climate Change Act 22 of 2024

Maintenance Act 99 of 1998

National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998

National Water Act 36 of 1998

Government publications

Climate Change Bill [B9-2022]

GN 747 in GG 45014 of 20 August 2021 (Consolidated Environmental Implementation and Management Plan 2020/2024)

GN 1026 in GG 45299 of 11 October 2021 (Notice of Introduction of National Climate Change Bill in National Assembly and Publication of Explanatory Summary)

International instruments

African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1990)

Decision Adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child Under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure in Respect of Communication No 104/2019 UN Doc CRC/C/88/D/104/2019 (8 October 2021)

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966)

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Children on a Communications Procedure UN Doc A/RES/66/138 (2011)

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and on the Sale of Children UN Doc A/RES/54/263 (2001)

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography UN Doc A/RES/54/263 (2001)

Paris Agreement (2016)

UN Committee on the Rights of the Child General Comment 5 on State Party Obligations Under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (Article 1) and Systems Strengthening for Child Protection (2018)

UN Committee on the Rights of the Child General Comment No 12 on the Rights of the Child to be Heard UN Doc CRC/C/GC/12 (2009)

UN Committee on the Rights of the Child General Comment No 26 on Children's Rights and the Environment with a Special Focus on Climate Change UN Doc CRC/C/GC/26 (2023)

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

Internet sources

African Children's Committee 2014 Revised Guidelines for the Consideration of Communications Provided for in Article 44 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child https://caselaw.ihrda.org/entity/4pzk8bedzi?file=154936181273170yyp83us7b.pdf accessed 15 January 2024

African Children's Committee 2020 Resolution on the Establishment of a Working Group on Children's Rights and Climate Change https://www.acerwc.africa/sites/default/files/2022-10/RESOLUTION%20ON%20THE%20ESTABLISHMENT%20OF%20A%20WORKING%20GROUP%20ON%20CHILDREN%E2%80%99S%20RIGHTS%20AND%20CLIMATE%20CHANGE.pdf accessed 15 January 2024

Agarwal S 2023 COP28: Prioritising Children in the Fight Against Climate Change: Development Matters https://oecd-development-matters.org/2023/11/27/cop28-prioritising-children-in-the-fight-against-climate-change/ accessed 29 November 2023

Centre for Child Law 2023 Centre for Child Law Comments on Draft General Comment No 26 (202X) Children's Rights and the Environment with a Special Focus on Climate Change https://centreforchildlaw.co.za/wordpress21/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Submission-on-CRC-Draft-General-Comment-No.26_2023.pdf accessed 26 June 2023

Centre for Child Law 2024 Submissions on the Climate Change Bill [B9B-2022] https://centreforchildlaw.co.za/wordpress21/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/310124-Centre-for-Child-Law-Submissions-on-the-Climate-Change-Bill_2024-2.pdf accessed 25 January 2024

Centre for Child Law, groundWork and Centre for Environmental Rights 2022 Joint Submission to the Presidential Climate Commission https://centreforchildlaw.co.za/wordpress21/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Joint-PCC-Submission_-JustTransitionChildrenRights_5-April-2022.pdf accessed 26 June 2023

Colombian Supreme Court 2018 Future Generations v Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development and Others https://climatecasechart.com/non-us-case/future-generation-v-ministry-environment-others/ accessed 26 June 2023

Department of Environmental Affairs 2012 National Climate Change Response Whitepaper https://www.dffe.gov.za/sites/default/files/legislations/national_climatechange_response_whitepaper.pdf accessed 25 January 2023

Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries 2019 National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy https://www.dffe.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/nationalclimatechange_adaptationstrategy_ue10november2019.pdf accessed 25 June 2023

Fridays for Future date unknown Home https://fridaysforfuture.org/ accessed 26 June 2023

Inter-American Court of Human Rights 2017 Inter-American Court of Human Rights Opinion OC-23/17 https://corteidh.or.cr/docs/opiniones/seriea_23_ing.pdf accessed 15 September 2024

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2022 Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/ accessed 25 June 2023

IPP Renewables date unknown Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme https://www.ipp-renewables.co.za/ accessed 26 June 2023

Nelson E 2019 Launch of the Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action https://texasimpact.org/2019/12/launch-of-the-intergovernmental-declaration-on-children-youth-and-climate-action/ accessed 5 June 2023

National Planning Commission 2012 Our Future – Make It Work: National Development Plan 2030 https://www.nationalplanningcommission.org.za/assets/Documents/ndp-2030-our-future-make-it-work.pdf accessed 25 January 2024

Nelson E 2019 Launch of the Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action https://texasimpact.org/2019/12/launch-of-the-intergovernmental-declaration-on-children-youth-and-climate-action/ accessed 5 June 2023

Presidential Climate Commission date unknown Home https://www.climatecommission.org.za/ accessed 25 January 2024

Presidential Climate Commission 2022 A Presidential Climate Commission Report: A Framework for a Just Transition in South Africa https://pccommissionflo.imgix.net/uploads/images/22_PAPER_Framework-for-a-Just-Transition_revised_242.pdf accessed 20 January 2024

Poynting M 2023 What is COP28 in Dubai and Why is It Important? https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67143989 accessed 7 December 2023

Republic of South Africa 2021 South Africa's First Nationally Determined Contribution Under the Paris Agreement https://www.dffe.gov.za/sites/default/files/reports/draftnationalydeterminedcontributions_2021updated.pdf accessed 1 March 2024

South African Institute of International Affairs date unknown SAIIA Youth https://saiia.org.za/youth/ accessed 1 March 2024

South African Institute of Internal Affairs 2021 The South African Youth Climate Action Plan https://saiia.org.za/youth-blogs/the-south-african-youth-climate-action-plan/ accessed 28 February 2024

South African Institute of Internal Affairs 2023 COP28 South African Youth Statement https://saiia.org.za/research/cop28-south-african-youth-statement/ accessed 1 March 2024

Save the Children 2022 A COP Fit for Children: How to Support Children's Participation https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/document/cop-fit-children-how-support-childrens-participation/ accessed 28 November 2023

South African Youth Climate Change Coalition date unknown Home https://sayccc.org.za/ accessed 30 December 2023

The Petitioners 2019 Communication to the Committee on the Rights of the Child: Petition Submitted Under Article 5 of the Third Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child https://childrenvsclimatecrisis.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2019.09.23-CRC-communication-Sacchi-et-al-v.-Argentina-et-al-2.pdf accessed 26 June 2023

United Nations Children's Fund date unknown Reimagine our Future Declaration https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/documents/reimagine-our-future-declaration accessed 28 June 2023

United Nations Children's Fund 2011 Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Children in South Africa https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/reports/exploring-impact-climate-change-children-south-africa accessed 25 June 2023

United Nations Children's Fund 2015 Unless We Act Now: The Impact of Climate Change on Children https://www.unicef.org/reports/unless-we-act-now-impact-climate-change-children accessed 20 February 2024

United Nations Children's Fund 2019 COP 25: Young Climate Activists Call for Urgent Action on the Climate Crisis at UNICEF-OHCHR Event https://www.unicef.org/pressreleases/cop-25-young-climate-activists-call-urgent-action-climate-crisis-unicefohchr-event accessed 3 June 2023

United Nations Children's Fund 2021 The Climate Crisis is a Child Rights Crisis: Introducing the Children's Climate Risk Index https://www.unicef.org/reports/climate-crisis-child-rights-crisis accessed 28 June 2023

United Nations Children's Fund 2022 The Impact of Climate Change on Children in the Middle East and North Africa https://www.unicef.org/mena/reports/impact-climate-change-children-mena accessed 28 June 2023

United Nations Children's Fund 2023 Media Advisory: UNICEF at COP 28 https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/media-advisory-unicef-cop28 accessed 7 December 2023

United Nations Children's Fund 2023 Climate, Energy and Environment Landscape Analysis for Children in South Africa https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/reports/climate-energy-and-environment-landscape-analysis-children-south-africa accessed 28 June 2023

United Nations Children's Fund Office of Research 2014 The Challenges of Climate Change: Children on the Front Line https://www.unicef.or.jp/osirase/back2014/pdf/140730.pdf accessed 7 December 2023

Youth Non-Governmental Organisations date unknown COP for Newbies: First Time at the UNFCCC COP https://express.adobe.com/page/CwEnVEVJ26Yaz/ accessed 30 December 2023

Youth Non-Governmental Organisations 2023 COP28 Youth Climate Champion Welcomes Global Youth Statement from YOUNGO Members in the Presence of World Leaders During World Climate Action Summit https://www.cop28.com/en/news/2023/12/COP28-Youth-Climate-Champion-welcomes-Global-Youth-Statement accessed 7 December 2023

Published

22-11-2024

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Bekink, M. (2024). The Fundamental Right of Children to Participate in Climate Change Decision-Making Processes: A South African Perspective. Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal, 27, (Published on 22 November 2024) pp 1-40. https://doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2024/v27i0a18350

Similar Articles

1-10 of 1189

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.