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 protection 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 Children Act and associated guidance includes 'environmental factors' as potential risks/ harms, and drive pro-active protective action
Effectively addresses the unique vulnerabilities of children to climate harms
Reflecting the urgency and priority required to protect children
Drawing all stakeholders to planning and implementation
Providing a basis for immediate action to mitigate and adapt at a local level
We are aware that young people often want to take action when they are experiencing eco-distress. We advise that parents and care-givers have oversight and provide guidance about how and where to take action. Protest movements do not have systems in place that one would normally associate with organisations. They are unregulated and often do not have safeguarding policies or procedures to ensure accountability. As a result harmful behaviours may not be addressed and individuals causing harm not identified. This is exacerbated by lack of trust in police and authorities so that broader safeguarding processes are not applied as they are not informed. Consequently, anyone who may be vulnerable to harm due to race, gender or disability, may wish to consider this.
We advise parents and caregivers discuss this with young people, and look to maintain an open dialogue, identify what they will do to make themselves safe if they witness or experience harmful behaviour. Caregivers may also want to reach out to the group of interest themselves to discuss how it is run. For instance, local, community-based groups are often set up as legal entities that will have safeguarding policies, individuals with the appropriate attitudes and skills to support young people getting involved, and identified people for those experiencing harm, or with concerns, to go to who have the authority to take effective action.
How to action a climate safeguarding referral
Read a sample referral
Referral email template coming soon
An overview of evidence identifying the main areas of impact for children in the UK
How to talk about the risks/ harms in a child-centred way
Responsibilities under the Children Act as it relates to climate risks and harms
Outlining the very real and imminent risks to families and children posed by the climate emergency.
CCPAST
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