The letter stated that while nearly thirty years of climate negotiations produced ambitious promises, they failed to deliver the rapid, equitable change needed. Young people pointed to escalating droughts, displacement, extreme heat, and food insecurity as evidence that the climate crisis was not a distant threat but a lived reality. 

At the heart of the letter was a set of 16 clear recommendations grounded in international human rights law, which outline a path for governments to align climate action with children’s rights and global justice. 

Among the key calls was a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels and that closes loopholes such as framing natural gas as a “bridge fuel” and ensures wealthy countries provide adequate financing to climate-vulnerable nations. The young authors insisted this transition must not rely on exploitative labour practices and must prioritise safe, renewable alternatives. 

It also emphasised the need to protect human rights within climate strategies, ensuring that children, Indigenous peoples, women, and marginalised communities are not left behind. It calls for legal protections for climate-displaced people, including child-friendly asylum processes that recognise the unique vulnerabilities of young migrants.  

Another central demand was the meaningful participation of children in climate policy. The authors called for accessible climate education, the creation of Children’s Assemblies, and the publication of child-friendly national climate plans so that young people understand the decisions shaping their future, as well as being given the opportunity to have their voice heard and actively influence that future. 

Their letter sent a clear message: children expected leaders not only to negotiate, but to act boldly, urgently, and in defence of their rights and their futures.