CRC concluding observations 2023, paragraph 45

The Committee welcomes the State party’s commitment to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 but is concerned about the large number of children living in areas with unsafe levels of air pollution and toxic air, the particular vulnerability of children in the Overseas Territories to the effects of natural disasters, and insufficient measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with its national and international commitments; (b) Adopt legislation on air quality and urgently take measures to ensure children’s environmental health, including by improving air quality in urban areas, preventing children’s exposure to environmental toxins and high levels of lead; (c) Ensure that national policies and programmes on addressing environmental protection, climate change and disaster risk management, including in the Overseas Territories, are developed and implemented in accordance with the principles of the Convention and take into account children’s needs and views; (d) Strengthen climate change mitigation and adaptation measures to storms and hurricanes, in particular in relation to children’s food, water and energy insecurity in the Overseas Territories; (e) Promote, with the active participation of schools, children’s awareness of and preparedness for climate change and natural disasters, especially in the Overseas Territories that are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, and strengthen awareness-raising among children on relevant climate legislation and their right to a clean environment and the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health; (f) Undertake legislative and other measures to uphold its extraterritorial obligations concerning impacts on the environment, including in the context of international cooperation.