Guardianes por la Vida

This month we are proud to spotlight Guardianes por la Vida (Guardians for Life), a member of the PMNCH Adolescents and Youth constituency (AYC),  for their outstanding work in promoting climate justice and environmental education through child citizenship.

Guardianes por la Vida is a movement of children and adolescents that was initiated by Francisco Javier Vera Manzanares in 2019 when he was just ten years old. Its first action was a park sit-in led by six children, and the organization has now grown to more than 700 children in Colombia determined to increase  climate action and address environmental-determinants of health for the health and well-being of all children and future generations. The movement aims to do this  by raising awareness, creating political advocacy at all levels and claiming the voices of children as powerful citizens of today. They have participated in multiple areas of political influence on issues such as the declaration of a climate emergency in Bogotá, the ban on animal testing and single-use plastic, and the Escazú agreement. They have developed environmental education programs throughout South America and demonstrated that no one is too small to transform their own environment.

Children are disproportionately affected by climate change impacts due to their unique physiology and stage of development, and effects on their health, development and education can be lifelong and irrecoverable. This is particularly the case for girls and children from marginalized communities. Climate-related events are associated with a) increases in post-traumatic stress and other mental health disorders in children and adolescents, b) increases in asthma, respiratory illnesses, diarrheal diseases and vector-borne diseases, c) increases in malnutrition and reduced growth and d) disruptions to responsive caregiving and family functioning, which can be linked to poor caregiver mental health, stress and loss of resources. 

Although children comprise one-third of the global population,  and half of those living in extreme poverty, they are often overlooked in countries’ responses to climate change. Less than half of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are child- or youth-sensitive, and just 2.4% of key global climate funds  can be classified as supporting programmes specifically targeting children.

Francisco, now 15, is a renowned climate activist and Child Advisor for the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, and has carried out political advocacy actions at local, national and global levels.  Most recently, Francisco described his concern over the lack of real, well-funded commitments coming out of COP29. As stated in a recent paper in the BMJ authored by PMNCH, financing is needed to build the climate resilience of frontline communities bearing the most severe health consequences of the climate crisis. Co-financing—the use of funding from one sector to support the goals of another—must be leveraged to reap the co-benefits of tackling climate change and promoting women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health.

At COP29, Francisco together with Flavia Bustreo, Chair of the PMNCH Governance and Ethics Committee, participated as panelists at the "Clean Air for Children's and Newborn's Health" event co-hosted by Clean Air Fund and IDEA Foundation. The event provided an opportunity to hear from leading child & newborn health experts on how to protect our youngest and most vulnerable from air pollution.  . Francisco remains concerned that we are building cities which are not benefitting children’s well-being. There is a need for green spaces, clean transport, easy access to schools and recreational areas which must be clean. Addressing air pollution is therefore a key priority In many countries, the impacts of climate change and air pollution  have also impeded efforts to measure and implement improvements in maternal, newborn and child health outcomes. To learn more, read the  WHA77 resolution to accelerate progress towards reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality – supported by PMNCH.  To learn more about PMNCH advocacy, at COP29, read our webstory.

Special thanks to Francisco Javier Vera Manzanares for his leadership in the fight for climate justice and meaningful advocacy for children who have the most to lose. Their engagement in policy processes is critical for lasting change. We appreciate his support as a recent PMNCH champion for the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign.

Guardianes por la Vida is now calling on various organizations and children from America and Europe to form the “Eco-Hope Coalition” to demand the human right to a healthy environment free from planetary crises that threaten a dignified life for people, animals and territories. Sign the petition here.

To learn more, follow their blog and social media: Facebook, X and Instagram.