South Sudan Children’s Parliament has called on the government to address the threats of climate change.
South Sudan is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including both long-term changes such as the gradual increase in temperature and short-term extreme climate events like increased flooding. These factors have significant implications for peace and security in the country.
Speaking during the child-led climate dialogue in Juba on Thursday, the Deputy Speaker of the Children’s Parliament, Agol Alier Garang, stressed the need for climate-resilient classrooms.
“To have a climate-resilient country, we should make sure that we have climate-resilient classrooms. There is a need to build classrooms that are resilient, given the times in South Sudan,” said Garang.
He said the government should ensure the flood-affected children continue to learn.
The Acting Country Director of Save the Children, Tunde Sawyerr, said they would continue to advocate the rights of the children.
“We will continue partnering with the government and advocating for the rights of the children, advocating for good causes that will ultimately benefit children,” Sawyerr said.
The Chairperson of the Specialized Committee on Environment and Forestry at the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Mary James Kongkong, said parliament had increased the budget for the Ministry of Environment by 19 percent.
She said the budget would help address climate change.
“We increased the budget by 19%. This is in the budget of the state,” said Kongkong.
Save the Children South Sudan organized the one-day dialogue as part of the pre-COP29 simulation. It brought together children from four schools in Juba and top government officials.