Jylhä, Kirsti , Pihkala, P., Cantell, H., Lyytimäki, J., Paloniemi, R., Pulkka, A., & I. Ratinen | 2020
In E. Pekkarinen, & T. Tuukkanen (Eds.), Lapsen oikeudet ja maapallon tulevaisuus. Lapsiasiavaltuutetun toimiston julkaisuja 2020:4.
[A climate of anxiety or enthusiasm? Means of climate communication and -education for coping with climate anxiety] in [Future of the planet and the rights of the child]. [Office of the Ombudsman for Children in Finland 2020:4]
A child’s right to life, development, health, a healthy and safe environment, and influence is recognised in the UN’s Convention of the Rights of the Child. In recent years, the condition of the environment has become a concern for us all, particularly through activities of children and young people. At the same time, children and young people’s fear and insecurity over the consequences of human-induced climate change have increased drastically. This anxiety and concern have resulted in an increasing call for help in the service system, too. However, the questions regarding the state of the planet have seldom been discussed from the perspective of children’s rights.
This book is a response by over 40 experts in different fields to an open invitation to discuss the future of the planet and children’s rights. The book poses several questions: What are children and young people’s experiences like regarding the climate change and changes in the environment? How do children and young people see the future of the planet? How do environmental questions concern children? Do children have genuine opportunities to influence environmental policies, and what are their experiences of having influence like? In addition, the book offers solutions. Sustainability can be promoted in collaboration with children and young people without taking the ethical responsibility for the environment away from adults.
