"The Future of Humanity and indeed all life on Earth depends on us". David Attenborough.
The Climate Child Protection and Safeguarding Team (CCPAST) recognises that children and young people are uniquely vulnerable to the threats and harms of the climate and ecological emergency. We are faced with the greatest threat to children in history. As parents and safeguarders, where do we begin? We start where the children are - with their community. This is where children need to see us protecting them.
Our child protection framework is based in the community and provides a way for us to keep children's needs at the centre at the local level.It supports us to ensure that our neighbourhoods mitigate and adapt appropriately to the risks and harms our children are exposed to as a result of the climate and ecological emergency.
CCPAST aims:
We are working to champion the recognition in the legal framework that children's needs are met not only by their family but by their community and environment. It takes a village to raise a child.
We aim to provide structured guidance to apply the child protection framework to climate risks and harms in the child's world. This includes familiarisation with the overarching principles and values of the legislation, practical advice on making a referral, how to apply the assessment framework, what a climate-based child safeguarding conference can look like, and developing an effective plan. This information is freely available on our website for professionals and communities to access and use to take child-centred action. We are in the process of developing workshops and other tools to inform and support.
The Child protection framework...
Provides a legal basis for protective action
The Children Act and associated guidance includes 'environmental factors' as potential risks/ harms, and drive pro-active protective action
Centres children’s needs
Effectively addresses the unique vulnerabilities of children to climate harms
Is time-bounded and coordinated
Reflecting the urgency and priority required to protect children
Is multi-disciplinary
Drawing all stakeholders to planning and implementation
Acts in communities, at the local authority level
Providing a basis for immediate action to mitigate and adapt at a local level
Recent Lancet article regarding CYP Climate concerns in US
Research data gatherered and compliled by Caroline Hickman and published in the Lancet showing how the impacts of Climate Change are worrying for the children in different states of the US despite the claims of their new president.
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Lone Child Asylum Seekers
Lone Child Asylum Seekers