“We are not going to solve climate change unless and until everyone works together, and children are a vital part of that "everyone.”
Hi!! My name is Niamh Purcell, and I’m a 19-year-old climate justice advisor from Ireland – though I began my journey four years ago, which seems like a very long time ago!
Today, I’m excited to share some of my story with you, and to tell you why I believe all children can be fantastic leaders when they are just given the opportunity to speak out!!
Children’s voices on climate change
A lot of the time, it’s adults making decisions about the world around us – but climate change affects everyone, especially children.
And it doesn’t just affect them today – they’ll have to grow up with it, and live with it in their adult lives. Thankfully, this is becoming a much bigger topic on the global agenda – and there’s only more to come!
So, if it’s their future… surely they should be the ones shaping that future?? Absolutely!!
Children will inherit every decision that we make today – so it’s only fair that they get to help make those decisions, too. They know what they need, and they matter just as much as any adult.
How I got involved in climate justice
It really started when I was 15, I was so lucky to be a Young Advisor for the Irish Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. We made 58 recommendations to the Irish Government on how to protect biodiversity in Ireland. It was amazing, because so many of our ideas can be found in Ireland’s 2024 National Biodiversity Action Plan, which was a huge achievement!
A video and information on the Young People's Assembly
Since then, I’ve done so many amazing things in youth climate justice! In 2025, I worked closely with both the Child Rights International Network (CRIN), and the Right to a Healthy Environment Campaign at the Council of Europe.
More on CRIN and the Healthy Environment campaign
Young voices at the European Commission and United Nations
A lot of my work over 2025 has been for the United Nations, with the Special Rapporteur for Climate Change and Human Rights – which is absolutely my dream!!
I manage an Instagram account, called ClimateRights4Kids, which talks about all the amazing things that the UN does to help with climate justice – and, of course, to educate children about why their voices matter so much!!
We release videos every week about different topics relating to climate change, and I’m so happy that so far, it’s been a success – and 2026 looks really exciting for us!
Check out the ClimateRights4Kids Instagram page
And now, I feel really lucky to be able to work with the EU Children's Participation Platform too! I’m super excited to see what 2026 brings for child participation, and for climate justice – and I’m also really looking forward to being back again soon to tell you more about the amazing work we’re doing with the Platform!
Preparing the future together!
For years, we’ve allowed children to think they shouldn’t be allowed to participate, because they’re “inexperienced,” or because they “don’t know enough.”
But that simply isn’t true, because I’ve spent the better part of my teenage years watching the amazing impact children can have when they’re just listened to. When they’re given space to simply speak. And they honestly do a fabulous job!!
It’s really easy to feel scared by climate change, especially when you don’t know what the future holds – so let’s consider how awful that must be for our children.
We can help them to get ready for that future, by allowing them to participate in the decisions we make today that shape that future.