Frequently Asked Questions

As outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), children have the right to grow up in a happy, healthy and safe environment. The climate emergency is one of the greatest threats to children’s rights globally.

Like many places across the world, Scotland’s climate is already changing. Our work with Scotland’s Climate Assembly showed the real worries and anxieties children have about their local areas and communities being under threat. This was especially voiced by those who have connections to fragile landscapes in the islands and coastal regions.

Since Children’s Parliament was found in 1996, climate change has been a key issue for children across our work. Like many children and young people across the world, children living in Scotland are calling for urgent climate action from decision-makers, recognising the implications inaction will have on their futures.  

Learn more in the children’s report for Scotland’s Climate assembly.

Scotland’s Climate Assembly brought together people from all walks of life, from across Scotland, to learn about and discuss how we can tackle climate change.
It is the first citizens’ assembly to have involved under 16s.

Read about Scotland’s Climate Assembly in the full report submitted to Scottish Parliament in June 2021. Watch this short film from Assembly member David, and Children’s Parliament Investigator Maya who talk about their involvement in Scotland’s Climate Assembly, the climate emergency and what needs to change.

In our work with Scotland’s Climate Assembly, Members of Children’s Parliament gained an increased awareness of what Scotland can do to tackle the climate emergency. At the same time, they gained new skills, confidence and relationships with other children and adults which have helped them to feel empowered and hopeful towards being part of the solutions needed.

Building on this work, we created the Climate Changemakers toolkit to provide children with creative, playful and children’s rights-based tools and activities to get involved in climate change-related influencing and advocacy, in their local communities and at a national level in Scotland.

You can explore our Guides for Supporting Adults (Investigate and Have Your Say) to support children in their journey as Climate Changemakers. You can also join the Unfearties! movement to stay up to date with events and projects around Scotland.

Children’s Parliament is Scotland’s centre of excellence for children’s participation and engagement. Our dream is that children grow up in a world of love, happiness and understanding. Our mission is to inspire greater awareness and understanding of the power of children’s rights and to support implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) across Scotland. Through rights-based, creative practice, we support children up to 14 years of age from diverse backgrounds across Scotland to meaningfully engage and participate in local, national and international decision-making processes.

Climate Changemakers is led by Children’s Parliament and supported by Scotland’s Climate Assembly, the Scottish Government’s COP26 division, and Globe International.