Research findings highlight how participation empowers children and young people as active agents of change in their communities and beyond
Research on Ireland’s Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss highlights how public participation processes can support children to experience their participation rights and empower them as active agents of change in their communities and beyond. The research indicates that when the proper supports are in place, children and young people can make significant contributions to the shaping of environmental decision making and policy. It also demonstrates that their participation encourages a sense of environmental responsibility and fosters collective action that persists over time and scale
Following the publication of two journal papers led by researchers at UCC and DCU, the team created research briefs highlighting the findings and insights in lay summaries:
- ‘This is about every child’s future!’ Can Citizens’ Assemblies support the Realisation of Children’s Participation Rights in Environmental Governance?
- Finding Your Tribe! Participatory Evaluation of Co-Creation With Children and Young People in Support of Environmental Action
The research demonstrates that children and young people who have experienced a citizens’ assembly first hand not only become environmental citizens and activists but go onto help others understand the real-world impact that participation can on their own personal journeys, on their families, schools and communities, and on policy, nationally and internationally.
For more on the Assembly itself and a report on the impact it has had go to https://cyp-biodiversity.ie
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