Reported by: The Agency
Date: 17th July, 2025.
Lusaka, Zambia.
The Ministry of Green Economy and Environment – Zambia has thrown its weight behind child-led climate action, formally welcoming the newly formed Children’s Climate Council Committee Members at a high-level engagement hosted in Lusaka.
The meeting, facilitated by Care for Nature in partnership with key civil society actors. Save the Children, Centre for Environment Justice, Caritas Zambia, among others, offered young climate advocates a rare opportunity to present their priorities directly to the Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Mike Mposha, MP.
“This Council gives our children a voice and a seat at the table. It is a progressive step we fully support,” Minister Mposha stated, praising the collaborative efforts of stakeholders involved.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to integrating child-sensitive approaches in Zambia’s climate response and ongoing revisions of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). New sectors under review include tourism, infrastructure, water and industrial processes, reflecting a broader strategy for climate resilience.
The Children’s Council presented a six-point petition, calling on the Ministry to:
- Officially support the formation of the Children’s Climate Council in Zambia.
- Include child delegates from Zambia in the national team attending COP 30 in Brazil this November.
- Support training and mentorship of children to serve as child climate negotiators.
- Give children a voice in climate policy, particularly on how climate change impacts them.
- Support school-based climate and environmental initiatives.
- Recognize that children’s voices must be heard in key decision-making platforms like COP.
“We don’t want to be left behind. Climate change affects our schools, our homes and our futures. We must be part of the solution,” said one young representative during the dialogue.
In response, Hon. Mposha reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting child engagement and enhancing environmental education across schools, noting that “children are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are the change agents of today.”
The Minister also lauded the children’s active participation in World Environment Day and other national campaigns, describing their involvement as inspirational and aligned with the government’s vision of a green, inclusive future.
The initiative is a strong reflection of Zambia’s evolving climate governance, anchored in the Green Economy and Climate Change Act of 2024, which promotes inclusivity and intergenerational participation.
As the country looks to COP 30, Zambia’s youth are no longer just observers, they are shaping the narrative.
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