Emergenza climatica e povertà quali fattori di crisi dei diritti del minore: riflessioni a partire dalla Convenzione ONU sui diritti del fanciullo dopo il General Comment N. 26

This paper explores the combined impact of climate change and poverty on the condition of children, identifying these as crisis factors that exacerbate inequalities and undermine the full enjoyment of the rights enshrined in the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In light of the recent General Comment No. 26 by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, titled “Children’s Rights and the Environment, with a Special Focus on Climate Change”, the paper examines the implications of adopting an holistic perspective in the interpretation and implementation of the Convention. It further explores the procedural mechanisms and legal tools aimed at ensuring the effective protection of children’s rights, highlighting the potential role of children themselves as both victims and agents of change. Finally, the analysis addresses the interplay between the Convention on the Rights of the Child and regional human rights protection systems, with reference to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), in order to assess the effectiveness of legal responses to the challenges posed by climate change.