Türkiye firmly believes that children should be involved in the preparation of countries' National Climate Adaptation Plans, said Aysin Turpanci, Head of the Climate Negotiations and International Policies Department at Türkiye's Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Report informs.
Turpanci expressed this view during a high-level roundtable discussion on "Children, Youth, and Climate Action," held within the framework of COP29.
She emphasized that COP29 marks a historic milestone, characterizing the preparation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) document as a crucial step in this process. The official stressed, "Children's participation in decision-making related to climate change is of great importance for their future. I highly appreciate UNICEF's support for these initiatives and their participation here with us."
According to Turpanci, the reports prepared specifically highlight the impact of climate change on children. She noted that climate change exacerbates poverty and further deteriorates children's living standards. “Despite children comprising one-third of the world's population, they have not been involved in negotiations on shaping climate policies until now,” Turpanci asserted, "It is essential for children to participate in the process of preparing national adaptation plans and NDCs."
The ministry official added that data plays an indispensable role in developing child-oriented climate policies. "The information provided to us by UNICEF has made a significant contribution in this area. The next critical issue is financing. Funding measures to meet children's needs requires special attention," she stated.
Speaking about Türkiye's efforts in this direction, Turpanci mentioned that early warning systems are being established to meet children's needs, and their requirements are considered in the NDCs and national adaptation plan. Moreover, Türkiye is taking measures to reduce the socio-economic impacts of climate policies on children and vulnerable groups.
"By ensuring children's participation, we must formulate policies that not only consider their needs but also listen to their voices," Turpanci concluded.