Raising awareness of Climate Justice at COP 28

This summer, year 10 pupil Nico kayaked 67km from Cambridge to the North Sea, raising awareness and funds to protect children’s rights from the impacts of our global Climate Emergency. His three-day ‘Paddle to the Sea’ down the River Cam, the Great Ouse and into the Wash raised £4,200.

All funds raised were donated to UNESCO Voices for Future Generations, which empowers children through education for sustainability worldwide, and to the National Trust Wicken Fen and Cambridge University Botanic Garden, who are working to protect and restore East Anglia’s fenland carbon sinks and to promote education about nature.

The Botanic Garden has created a Plants and Climate Change trail that includes a mini wetland with many rare plants and insects, and the National Trust Wicken Fen, whose 100 year Vision includes restoring 53 sq km of drained fenland with more than 9,300 endemic species

We need to protect and restore our natural world, advance Climate Justice and meet our global Sustainable Development Goals through education and action,” summarised Nico.

Back on dry land, Nico recently prepared a submission about Climate Justice for the UN Rights of the Child Convention in 2023, ‘I’m determined to try my hardest to make a difference, hopefully inspiring others. In light of the COP28 Global Stocktake, we urgently need all decision-makers to stop backsliding and tackle the Climate Emergency on a massive scale right away.”

Later this week, Nico will speak at two events during the COP 28 Conference, one with the Special Rapporteur and another with the IUCN Nature Pavilion.

Head back to stories