350 Day of Action

On August 24th, Plan International called on our global leaders and all its supporters – sponsors, donors, Plan staff – to take action to cap our Greenhouse Gas emissions at 350ppm. Our children are watching and will be there at Copenhagen to see that your commitments are real.

See how children have marked 350 Day of Action around the world:

In Cebu, the Philippines

In Ghana:

In the Dominican Republic:

Children are key agents for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation

Children around the world are already facing the impact of climate change -- through the devastating floods in the Philippines, drought in Kenya and sea abrasion in Indonesia. But beyond climate victims, they are interested in taking part in decisions affecting their future, and they have a right to do so. Children are taking action to ensure their safety and that of their communities, offering practical solutions and calling for action from their leaders. These films were produced by children in the Philippines who are facing the realities of climate risks in their day-to-day lives.

Flood: Menace to Education

Barobo, The sinking Barangay

The Pock-marked Face of Barangay Caga-ut

What our leaders have to say about children and climate change

“[Climate change] is the moral challenge of our generation…succeeding generations depend on us. We cannot rob our children of their future.”
Ban Ki Moon - UN Secretary-General, Bali COP –December 2007


"Success [at Copenhagen] will require two major shifts in how we think - as policy makers, as campaigners, as consumers, as producers, as a society. The first is to think not in political or economic cycles; not just in terms of years or even decade-long programmes and initiatives. But to think in terms of epochs and eras - and how our stewardship will be judged not by tomorrow’s newspapers but by tomorrow’s children."
Speech by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. 29 June 2009

So let us begin. For if we are flexible and pragmatic; if we can resolve to work tirelessly in common effort, then we will achieve our common purpose: a world that is safer, cleaner, and healthier than the one we found; and a future that is worthy of our children.
Speech by US President Barak Obama to the United Nations Summit on climate change 22 September 2009

“It is a moral and economic imperative to guarantee a future for our children.”
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso


Words have been spoken, but what commitments will be made by Friday, December 18th in Copenhagen? We will be there to monitor and hold them to account!!!!

Young Climate Campaigner gets ready to attend COP15

UK Climate change champion Leon is 17 year olds from Grimsby, and a member of Plan UK’s Youth Advisory Panel. At global level, Leon participated with Plan at the 2008 Bonn UNFCCC Intercessional meeting and the 2009 EU Green Week event in Brussels. In the UK Leon has facilitated Climate Change awareness raising workshops with Peer Link, his local youth council, presented his views at the International Change Makers conference and local Rotary Clubs, and lobbied his local MPs in Grimsby to get free recycling in schools. Leon is now actively raising funds to join the Plan youth delegation at COP15, where several young people, sponsored by Plan, will be reporting as youth journalists.

Read Leon's road map to Copenhagen:


Day by day my understanding of Climate Change develops, generally this is due to my own research and my work with Plan UK and other concerned charities, however for many others it is a very different story. Many young people are not as motivated to do their own research and rely on other sources for information such as school so most students are unlikely to have any idea on the effects of Climate Change on children and young people across the globe. Since my research and my time with Plan UK I have learnt that Climate Change has drastic effects on young people and that something must be done to aid those who already struggle with day to day life. The effects of Climate Change are magnifying problems which already exist; countries which already suffer from economic problems will have even less hope. For example if conditions for growth and production are not sufficient to ensure the up-keep and stability of a family then the changing climate will have drastic effects on them and may compromise their future.

Children and Young People are the future; we are the ones that will have to clean up the mass of what has become a certain mess.

The effect this has on young people across the world is un-measurable. Children and Young people in developing countries already struggle with life. Climate Change is only increasing barriers to learning and personal development. However, it is important not to forget those that live in the more developed world; as young people are still indeed greatly affected. Climate Change is adding to the stress of life, we are becoming increasingly aware and concerned about Climate Change, we know that there is still room for improvement but we do not know how the international community is acting on this. We want and have the right to be able to grow up in a sustainable and safe world. Climate Change only makes this increasingly difficult.

Governments must start working together even more; they must also make room for us to voice our opinions and truly influence decisions that will affect our future. It is important to include young people in this as we often generate ideas that are missed by officials and professionals. It is crucial that our unique experiences and our unique thoughts are recognised and considered. Governments must build a positive relationship with their young people and to ensure successful development a safe and secure environment must be built so that young people feel comfortable and able to express their views, ideas and opinions. Different methods of communication should also be used as conferences for young people are not the way forward. Methods such as arts and crafts, music and dance, writing and sculpture are all excellent alternate methods, not to mention social networking, blogging, etc. Imaginative thinking will give the government ability to build an all inclusive programme so that views, ideas and inspiration can be gathered from all young people. We truly do care about our future, and we truly want to make a difference and change the path that is currently being laid.

It is time to empower young people to direct the power of government.
Times are changing.
The Climate is changing.
Let us children be the centre of that change.