Young people have COP-ped on to the climate crisis — we must be heard

Just think about what the world might look like in 30 years' time. That’s a whole three decades of possibility ahead. Let’s make it count and include young people in the decision-making process about climate action, writes Mary Osubor Kennedy.

Mary Osubor Kennedy: "When you're a young person, you're somewhat in this grey area of not being a child but not being considered an adult either."

Exactly 30 years ago, in 1992, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified here in Ireland. 

Within that, Article 12 states that every child has the right to freely express their views in all matters affecting them, depending on the child’s maturity. But now, 30 years later, it’s still somewhat of a novelty to see young people meaningfully involved in decisions that affect us directly.