ABSTRACT
In this chapter, a theoretical background on the political agency of children and youth is provided. The chapter draws on critical scholarship in childhood studies and children's rights theory. It offers a short historical overview of the child/youth climate action movement – its origins, major turning points, and current scope. This historical perspective underscores not only the visibility of child/youth climate action but also the challenges and barriers that children face, including tokenistic involvement. These barriers are examined in detail, as is the transformative potential of the child/youth climate action movement, both in climate justice debates and in international human rights law. It is outlined that through child/youth climate action, children and youth are pushing the boundaries of participation rights under the CRC.
