With a focus on building public policies aimed at climate justice and child protection, based on the Brazilian reality, state deputy Marina Helou (Rede) and councilwoman Marina Bragante (Rede) – both trained by RenovaBR – promoted, this Monday (19), the meeting Climate and Childhood: a path to COP30, at the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo (Alesp).
The solemn session anticipated the debates for the UN (United Nations) climate conference that will take place in November in Belém (PA), and had as its highlight the symbolic protocol of two bills – state and municipal – that recognize the right of children and adolescents to access nature as a public policy, entitled Policy for the Implementation of the Right of Children and Adolescents to Nature and a Healthy Environment.
By bringing together experts, public managers and civil society, the meeting reinforced the commitment that RenovaBR leaders have to making decisions based on evidence, promoting a strategic discussion around data, analyses and concrete proposals to address the impacts of the climate crisis on children.
With the support of the Alana Institute and in the presence of the current nature manager, JP Amaral, the parliamentarians also signed the declaration “Children at the heart of climate action: a political commitment for COP30”, which recognizes the need for parliamentary engagement in legitimizing children as a priority in planned climate policies.
Climate tragedies directly affect children's lives
Although underrepresented in international discussions on climate, children and adolescents are already the most exposed and affected by environmental risks, according to data of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). According to the guide prepared in 2022, more than 40 million children and adolescents in Brazil are exposed to two or more climate risks. Among the dangers, water scarcity, which affects 8.6 million, and the risk of flooding, which is a recurring problem for another 7.3 million, stand out.
In her speech, councilwoman Marina Bragante highlighted that the climate crisis has impacts that directly affect the rights of young people, even interfering with the course of public education.
She commented on the difficulty schools have in accessing green spaces and how climate disasters affect school development, often preventing students from attending classes, whether due to intense rain or heat. Therefore, she emphasized that the structuring of the projects was also based on listening to educators and guardians and, mainly, on the experiences of children and adolescents.
State deputy Marina Helou emphasized that the objective is to arrive at COP30 with concreteness and not just with requests. “We have science-based and nature-based solutions for how we can adapt to climate change and bring good news to children, building a future with them and taking action.””, comments Helou.
The session, which was attended by the general coordinator of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Hugo do Valle Mendes, and the climate change advisor for the Secretariat of Environment, Infrastructure and Logistics of the State of São Paulo, Carina Dolabella, sought to give due space to children's need for direct contact with nature, green spaces and the outdoors, charting a different path from the most common discussions about the climate crisis, which is often reduced to the dimension of environmental protection and conservation.
At the end of the meeting, the state deputy highlighted the importance of having the parliament, with the presence of the legislative, executive and civil society participating together in the proposal of a declaration so that political agents can commit to the youth.
On the Policy for the Implementation of the Right of Children and Adolescents to Nature and a Healthy Environment
Bills filed at the state and municipal levels are aligned with the Legal Framework for Children and Nature, which is being processed in the National Congress (PL 2225/2024), based on the Federal Constitution that reinforces everyone's right to a balanced environment and the priority that must be given to the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents.
Filed in Alesp and in the City Council of São Paulo, the bill No. 480/2025 and No. 566/2025 proposes the formulation and implementation of public policies to make effective the right of children and adolescents to nature and a healthy environment, including access to natural and ecologically balanced areas, the exercise of family and community coexistence and free play, in addition to the defense, conservation and regeneration of nature and the guarantee of its benefits for present and future generations by the State of São Paulo and the municipalities of São Paulo.
Furthermore, the projects emphasize the need for children and adolescents to be listened to, participate and play a leading role, so that their opinions are considered in the proposal, formulation, discussion and monitoring of public policies at state and municipal levels.
About COP30
COP30 is the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (Conference of the Parties). This year, it will take place in November in Belém, Pará.
The meeting brings together world leaders, scientists, non-governmental organizations and representatives of civil society to discuss and debate actions to combat climate change.
