JUBA — Children in South Sudan have told their government and the world that climate promises are no longer enough. Days before the COP31 climate summit opens in Antalya, Türkiye, young people in the capital, Juba, presented a declaration demanding climate justice, protection for children and a real say in the decisions that shape their future.
The declaration, titled “Our Future, Our Rights, Our Climate — Listen to the Children of South Sudan”, was adopted at a pre-COP31 simulation event led by children on 29 October 2026 at Save the Children’s office in Juba. Children sat alongside representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Education and other ministries, teachers, parents, journalists and the Local Response Pooled Fund South Sudan to discuss the country’s climate priorities ahead of COP31, which runs from 9 to 20 November 2026.
A declaration written by children
Under the theme “From Commitments to Implementation in South Sudan”, the children set out how recurrent floods, droughts, food insecurity, displacement and extreme weather are already threatening their access to education, healthcare, food, clean water and protection.
“The climate crisis is a children’s rights crisis. Our future must not be sacrificed for climate inaction. COP31 must deliver more than promises; it must deliver climate justice and action that protects every child,” the children declared.
The event also heard from 17-year-old climate advocate Siama Santino, a member of the Children’s Parliament, who said extreme heat in 2024 and 2025 disrupted learning, while flooding in Bor, where she previously studied, made travelling to school difficult.
Key points
- Children in Juba adopted the declaration “Our Future, Our Rights, Our Climate” at a pre-COP31 simulation event on 29 October 2026.
- They demand climate-resilient schools, accessible early warning systems, safe shelters, reliable healthcare, clean water and sanitation.
- They call for accessible climate finance, action on loss and damage, and meaningful participation of children in climate decisions.
- Save the Children will send nine delegates, including five children, to COP31 in Antalya from 9 to 20 November 2026.
- The government has pledged to put children at the centre of national climate policies and is pursuing a 25 million dollar proposal with the United Nations Development Programme.
What the children are asking for
The declaration calls for investment in climate-resilient schools, accessible early warning systems, safe shelters, reliable healthcare, clean water and sanitation. It urges leaders and international partners to provide accessible climate finance to vulnerable communities, to address climate-related loss and damage, and to ensure that children participate meaningfully in climate policies and decisions.
It also stresses protection for the children most at risk: displaced children, children with disabilities, and those living in remote and conflict-affected communities, who often face greater dangers during climate-related emergencies.
Why South Sudan’s children are on the front line
The scale of need behind the children’s demands is stark. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund 2026 appeal for South Sudan, the protracted crisis of conflict, displacement, food insecurity and climate shocks affects 9.3 million people, including 5 million children. Acute malnutrition is critical, with 2.11 million children at risk, and floods had affected more than 1 million people in 29 counties by the end of October 2025, according to the United Nations humanitarian coordination office.
The regional climate outlook from the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre points to a higher likelihood of warmer-than-average conditions over South Sudan, adding to the pressure on farming, water and health.
What the government promised
Speaking during the dialogue, Payai Jok Manyok John, Director of Climate Change and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change National Focal Point at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, said translating commitments into practical action is now the test.
“Climate change is not only an environmental challenge; it is also a development, humanitarian and intergenerational justice issue. Children are among those most vulnerable to its impacts, despite contributing the least to the causes of climate change,” he said.
The ministry outlined proposed national commitments to integrate children’s priorities into climate policies and development plans, strengthen disaster preparedness, promote climate-resilient schools, protect essential services and support child- and youth-led environmental initiatives. It also emphasised improved climate education, stronger coordination and increased access to climate finance. The government is pursuing a 25 million dollar proposal with the United Nations Development Programme and planning a further 15 million dollars to support small-scale farmers, and it plans a climate change centre at the University of Juba to support training in climate science and policy.
Nine delegates head to Antalya
Save the Children will send nine delegates, including five children — two boys and three girls — to COP31, giving children from South Sudan a direct voice in the international climate discussions. Their message, as the declaration closes, is simple: “Listen to our voices. Protect our rights. Invest in our resilience. Act now for our future.”
The children’s call joins a wider youth build-up to COP31. Young people from Jordan gathered in Amman earlier this month to shape their own national youth climate statement for the summit, as reported in Jordan’s youth climate conference, while the world’s largest youth climate gathering, COY21, meets in Antalya from 5 to 7 November, just before COP31 opens.
