In brief
In Juba, South Sudan, teenagers like Siama Santino and Amoko Ronny are urging national leaders and international partners to turn climate promises into tangible projects. Their demands include climate‑resilient schools, upgraded early‑warning systems, direct relief for flood victims, and investment in clean energy and sustainable agriculture as COP31 approaches.
In Juba, South Sudan, teenagers are urging leaders to move beyond fancy promises and take real steps to protect children from climate shocks. Teenagers Siama Santino and Amoko Ronny spoke at an event organized by Save the Children and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Siama, 17, walks through flood‑ridden streets to reach school. She told Xinhua, "Every morning when you wake up, you have to think of how much you are going to move in water or first remove your shoes to reach school." She wants climate education, emergency preparedness training and aid for families displaced by flooding.
Ronny, 18, said, "Children must be the top priority," and asked for climate‑resilient school buildings, better early‑warning systems, direct relief for disaster victims, and investment in sustainable agriculture and clean energy. He noted that extreme heat forced local children out of classrooms for two weeks in 2024 and that floods destroyed crops, deepening food shortages.
The young activists highlighted that the world is preparing for COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, from Nov. 9 to 20. They call on national authorities and international partners to fund practical projects such as climate‑resilient infrastructure, early‑warning systems, and targeted humanitarian aid for households hit by climate disasters.
