Peer-reviewed article
Exploring COP28 UAE Resolutions: Child Participation and Protection: A Case Study from England and Wales
Jacqueline Sebire, Lydia Davenport ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines whether Safeguarding Children Partnerships in England and Wales have implemented COP28 commitments to include child participation in climate and biodiversity strategies. A review of 140 strategic plans and an online survey found that none of the partnerships identified climate change as a child protection priority, and most saw implementation as the responsibility of other agencies. The researchers hypothesise that engaging children in climate discussions could improve their mental health and coping, and strengthen institutional trust through meaningful participation.
Key points
- None of 140 Safeguarding Children Partnerships in England and Wales identified climate change impacts as a child protection priority
- Survey respondents were aware of COP28 UAE resolutions but viewed implementation as the responsibility of other agencies
- Child participation in climate debates could provide children with agency and coping strategies for eco-distress
- Involving children in decision-making using procedural justice principles can enhance institutional legitimacy
- SCPs miss opportunities to legitimize themselves by not fully embracing child participation in climate action
Limitations
The document reports on awareness and strategic planning rather than actual implementation outcomes or impact on children's well-being. It does not provide evidence of whether climate change actually affects child protection risks or whether child participation in climate discussions produces the hypothesised mental health benefits.
Abstract
This study examines the implementation of COP28UAE's commitment to child participation in climate and biodiversity strategies by Safeguarding Children Partnerships (SCPs) in England and Wales. Employing a mixed methods approach, a document review of the strategic plans of SCPs (N=140) revealed that none had identified the impact of climate change as a child protection priority; online survey responses suggested an awareness of COP28UAE resolutions, but their implementation was seen as the responsibility of other agencies. The hypothesis suggested is that eco-distress affects children's mental health and that participation in climate change debates provides them with agency and coping strategies. In addition, applying procedural justice principles and involving children’s participation enhances institutional legitimacy. However, SCPs are yet to adopt the impacts of climate change as child protection risk factors and face challenges in balancing immediate risks to children with future climate threats. In doing so, SCPs potentially miss opportunities to legitimize themselves by not fully embracing child participation.