South Sudan Children’s Parliament Calls for Action on Climate Change
The South Sudan Children’s Parliament recently emphasized the urgent need for the government to address the threats posed by climate change in the country. As a nation highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, South Sudan faces both long-term shifts in temperature and extreme weather events that require immediate attention.
During a child-led climate dialogue in Juba, Deputy Speaker of the Children’s Parliament, Agol Alier Garang, highlighted the importance of creating climate-resilient classrooms to safeguard the education of young citizens. He stressed that ensuring children affected by flooding can continue their education is crucial for the country’s future.
Save the Children, represented by Acting Country Director Tunde Sawyerr, pledged to advocate for children’s rights and collaborate with the government to support initiatives that benefit the wellbeing of young people. Additionally, Chairperson of the Specialized Committee on Environment and Forestry, Mary James Kongkong, disclosed that parliament had allocated a 19% increase in the budget for the Ministry of Environment to combat climate change.
Save the Children South Sudan organized the dialogue as part of the pre-COP29 simulation, bringing together students from four schools in Juba with key government officials to discuss the pressing issue of climate change.