Climate Change, the Rights of Children, and the Duty of Care – Webinar Recording

In response to the Government's report on the implementation of the Convention in Australia, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child emphasised "...that the effects of climate change have an undeniable impact on children's rights...". It was also "concerned about the State party's insufficient progress on climate goals and targets committed to in the Paris Climate Agreement and its continuing investment in extractive industries, in particular coal."

Inspired by Greta Thunberg's School Strike for Climate Change, year 11 school girl Anjali Sharma started an Instagram account that soon gained 12,000 followers. With the help of a Brigidine nun and seven other children from around Australia, Anjali went to court claiming the government's approval of a mine in NSW would violate its duty of care to young people who will be impacted by climate change. The court's judgement in their favour has been hailed around the world.

Anjali Sharma and Dr Noam Peleg (Senior Lecturer at UNSW and child rights expert) discuss this landmark case and to consider how explicitly reference to Australia's obligations under the CRC may have affected the claim and judgement.