The first authoritative and comprehensive interpretation of member-states' obligations in fulfilling children's rights to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment was issued under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

"General Comment 26 on children's rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change," explicitly addresses the climate emergency, the collapse of biodiversity and pervasive pollution. A child-friendly version of the General Comment has also been released today.

The CRC is the most widely ratified treaty in the world, created in 1989 and ratified by 196 states. It outlines universal children's rights such as the right to life, survival and development, and the right to health. The Philippines was one of the first countries to ratify the CRC in August 1990.

The Philippines ranks first in terms of disaster risk according to the World Risk Index for 2022, as well as the first in the East Asia and Pacific region on the Child Climate Risk Index. Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency, and slower onset climate impacts, such as rising sea levels and increasing temperatures are affecting the health, nutrition and education of children in the country. Poor children, children with disabilities, children who belong to indigenous groups, children in situations of armed conflict, and girls, are especially vulnerable.

General Comment  26, a result of global and intergenerational engagement, requires States to be responsible not only for protecting children's rights from immediate harm, but also for foreseeable violations of their rights in the future. States can be held accountable for environmental harm occurring within their borders, as well as the harmful impacts of environmental damage and climate change beyond their borders. Children's views must be considered in environmental decision-making, and equipping them with education and tools to act, advocate and protect themselves from environmental harm are also critical.

Member-states, such as the Philippines, are also urged to take immediate action including organizing the phase out of coal, oil and natural gas and shifting to renewable energy sources, improving air quality, and ensuring access to clean water, transforming industrial agriculture and fisheries to produce healthy and sustainable food, and protecting biodiversity.