I attended a session at this year’s COP, in Baku, which focused on children and young people. The room overflowed with people—children, youth, and adults of all ages- who were gathered at the Baku stadium, concerned about the future of humanity. The generations to come will live on a planet that feels increasingly unfamiliar. During moments of introspection, as I looked at every face—some scared and worried, others hopeful and optimistic— a video began to play.
This video showed children from the Global South sharing how climate change affected their lives. They delivered a poignant message to world leaders, urging action for a better future for all. Their innocent faces transported me back to my childhood, making me relive every moment of it. I lost my childhood to the ravages of war and the harsh reality of internal displacement. These children are losing theirs to another relentless war— the war of humanity against nature. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and the slow, silent destruction of our planet. These children, like me, are being forced to grow up too quickly. They are burdened with the knowledge of a crisis that threatens their very future.
As I reflected on the shared struggles of two generations from the Global South—the chair of the session said something that sent shivers down my spine: “This is the kind of good childhood we want for our children.” The chair was referring to including children at COP and giving them a seat at the table as a “good childhood”. In that moment the idea of a “good childhood” was redefined. No longer is it about the carefree days and simple joys. Instead, children now have to be “aware”, engaged in activism, and deeply informed about the world’s pressing issues. Witnessing these children, bearing the weight of our collective inaction, was heartbreaking.
When I saw children on the stage, I thought they should be playing somewhere with their friends. When I heard them talk, I thought they should be singing songs or mimicking bird calls. When they talked about how climate change had affected their lives, I thought they should be dreaming of bright futures, not dwelling on thoughts of destruction.
When adults clapped for the children, I thought the moment should serve as a moment of reflection on the kind of world they have created, and the world these children will have to navigate. When I saw those children more concerned about the future than those who are responsible for it, I thought of how they should not even be aware of what climate change is, let alone talk about it. They should be lost in their own big-small worlds, playing in the mud, making paper boats, chasing each other, and simply enjoying life as children.
Instead, we live in a world where children, who should be carelessly chasing butterflies, are chasing answers to humanity’s biggest problems. Giving them a healthy planet, fresh air to breathe in, good food, education, healthcare, and a safe, joyful life should be the only vision of “good childhood”.
This should apply to every child— and not only the Global South. Perhaps the real question is this: Is it a success that children speak at COP about climate change and their futures, or is it the world’s grandest failure?
The great Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali poet, philosopher, and Nobel laureate, offered a vision of childhood that stands in stark contrast to the one children today are forced to endure. In his poem "On the Seashore of Endless Worlds", he captures the innocence and freedom of childhood with these words:
“On the seashore of endless worlds children meet. The infinite sky is motionless overhead, and the restless water is boisterous. On the seashore of endless worlds, the children meet with shouts and dances.
They build their houses with sand, and they play with empty shells. With withered leaves, they weave their boats and smilingly float them on the vast deep. Children have their play on the seashore of worlds.”
Tagore’s world is one where children play on the shores, immersed in innocence and boundless imagination. He paints a picture of harmony—a world where nature is a friend, not a foe. His vision reminds us of the delicate balance between life and nature.
The emotion we feel toward children and young people, must fuel action. Do we want our children-ours and those around the world- to grow up reading about, witnessing, and protesting against the catastrophes of climate change? Or do we want them to live freely in a healthy, thriving world?
It’s time to take action. We must demand climate justice, protect our planet, and ensure a future where every child and young people can live and thrive. The choices we make today will shape our legacy. The future is in our hands, and it’s up to us to make it a world worth living in.
Asif is the UNICEF Pakistan Youth Advocate. He is an M.Phil. student in development studies at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE). His interests lie at the intersection of climate change and global development.
A firm believer in the transformative power of social entrepreneurship, Asif presented innovative solutions at the regional rounds of the prestigious HULT Prize. At university, he served as the vice-captain of the Green Youth Movement, where he collaborated with local communities to promote sustainable living.
