Child-led climate action is changing communities – and rewriting the future
Across the Pacific and beyond, children and young people are stepping into leadership roles to confront one of the most urgent challenges of our time: the climate crisis. While climate change continues to threaten children’s health, safety, education and futures, it’s young people themselves who are increasingly leading the call for action. Their message is clear: they don’t want to be seen only as victims of the climate crisis. They are leaders, change-makers, and advocates for climate justice.
Save the Children is proud to support the rising movement of youth activism, helping children raise their voices, influence decisions, and build climate resilience from the ground up.
Why youth are stepping up for climate justice
Climate change isn’t a distant threat for many children – it’s already reshaping their lives. Rising seas, severe droughts, intense cyclones and food insecurity are daily realities for many communities, particularly across the Pacific. And it’s children who are the most affected.
But rather than waiting for change, children are taking the lead. From calling for stronger environmental protection to designing solutions that reduce disaster risk, young people are standing up for their futures. As Save the Children’s Fearless For Change Strategy puts it, children have the right to survive, learn, and be safe – but also to lead.
We see this clearly across our programs: when children are given the tools, platforms and support to participate, they not only contribute to climate solutions – they drive them.
Meet the young leaders changing the world
In the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, young people are rising as champions for their communities and the environment. The Next Generation Pacific Youth Ambassadors are just one example – a group of passionate young leaders amplifying their peers’ voices and working with governments to shape climate responses that are inclusive, sustainable and child-sensitive.
These children and adolescents are not only raising awareness – they’re creating practical change. Some are leading environmental education workshops, others are establishing sustainable gardening projects to improve food security in the face of extreme weather. In Vanuatu, young people have helped design climate-resilient infrastructure and advocated for their needs at national and international forums.
Again and again, children show us that they know what their communities need, and they have the ideas and motivation to lead the way.
Breaking barriers: How young voices are heard
Despite their energy and insights, children often face significant barriers to participation. These include social norms that exclude children from decision-making, as well as limited access to funding, information and leadership opportunities.
Save the Children’s work is guided by the belief that child participation is not just beneficial, it’s a right. As part of our Fearless for Children strategy, we’re committed to shifting power to children and young people, so they are included in decisions that affect their lives.
We do this by embedding child voice and choice in every level of our programming – from community-led disaster risk reduction, to regional advocacy and research. Whether it’s helping a student speak up at her school board meeting or supporting a youth group to influence climate policy, we stand behind the right of every child to be heard, as guaranteed in Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Save the Children’s role in supporting climate activism
As a child rights organisation, Save the Children works alongside young people to promote climate justice and resilience. Our 2025–2027 Strategy commits to supporting climate action that is locally led, child-centred, and equity-driven – especially in regions where climate impacts are hitting hardest, including here in Australia.
In the Pacific, this work is grounded in our regional strategy, which aims to eliminate malnutrition, reduce violence, and ensure inclusive education – all while enabling communities to adapt to climate change and become more resilient.
We support youth-led advocacy and partner with local organisations to run climate-focused programs that are tailored to each community’s context. This includes:
- Empowering girls to participate in climate leadership
- Funding child-led disaster preparedness initiatives
- Facilitating climate education in schools
- Creating platforms where youth can speak directly to decision-makers
What real impact looks like in youth-led change
The impact of youth climate activism is already visible. In Vanuatu, young people involved in our programs have contributed to local development plans that prioritise sustainable farming. In PNG, youth leaders have helped their communities adopt new waste management systems and renewable energy sources.
These are real, lasting changes that improve lives – and they are led by young people.
By supporting child-led initiatives in climate-affected areas, Save the Children is seeing a shift: children are no longer seen as passive recipients of aid, but as co-creators of solutions. And as their confidence grows, so does their ability to influence decision-making at every level.
The future of climate leadership is already here
Young people are not waiting to be invited to the table – they are building their own. And in doing so, they are transforming how we think about leadership, resilience and justice in the age of climate change.
We know that the future of climate action must be fearless – just like the children we work with. From rural communities to regional forums, their voices are shaping a new vision: one where children’s rights are upheld, their futures protected, and their leadership recognised.
Because when we back children, we all move closer to a safer, fairer, and more sustainable world. Find out how you can support youth climate leaders today.