No generation should be allowed to pass the burden of climate mitigation onto the next

Eurochild’s President Tanya Ward and members of the team joined over 250 participants of the 15th European Forum on the Rights of the Child to discuss the EU’s commitment to building fair and resilient societies through stronger children’s.

Under the motto “Championing Children’s Rights: Building Fair and Resilient Societies for the EU’s Present and Future”, the Forum brought together children and young people on 23 and 24 June. Its main focus was on how EU priorities on children’s rights can contribute to building a stronger and more resilient society across generations. It was also an opportunity to present progress achieved and discuss existing gaps in the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child.

Eurochild’s new elected President, Tanya Ward, joined the plenary session on climate change and intergenerational fairness, highlighting these issues as essential components of a sustainable approach to children’s rights. With extensive experience leading the Children’s Rights Alliance in Ireland, Tanya brings a passionate and informed perspective to Eurochild’s mission of ensuring children’s voices are central to policy discussions across Europe.

In her interventions, she underlined that the conversation on climate breakdown and intergenerational fairness is one of the most critical issues facing Eurochild’s members. Addressing climate breakdown through the lens of intergenerational fairness offers the best pathway toward a just and sustainable transition. A key principle is that no generation should be allowed to pass the burden of climate mitigation onto the next. This is why the EU’s commitment to integrating intergenerational fairness into its policymaking is so important. Ensuring that public policies account for long-term impacts requires not only awareness but also the adoption of innovative governance models that place future interests at the heart of decision-making.

Intergenerational fairness also complements a child rights-based approach, reinforcing EU frameworks like Investing in Children and the EU Child Guarantee, which aim not only to protect children today but to build a more equitable society for the future. Achieving this vision depends on four key areas: improving access to information, fostering meaningful dialogue, empowering young people, and expanding opportunities for their active participation.

For further information: eu-for-children.europa.eu