Ms Shania Ramadhani:

Chair, asante sana for the invitation to speak to the committee. When we met the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, at COP27, he agreed it is important that children and young people are involved in discussions on the climate crisis and encouraged me to continue to keep on pestering leaders for action. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to the committee today. It has shown by example the importance and the need to include children in decision-making.

Even at my young age, I have seen the effects of climate change in my community. Most of the impacts are happening in developing countries such as Tanzania, where I come from. In my country, we are experiencing a shortage of rain, long periods of drought and water shortages because water sources have dried up. Children are forced into work to provide food at home. We have a hunger crisis because nothing is being harvested from farms. We are experiencing an increased cost of living, the eruption of diseases such as malaria as a result of the increase in temperature and an increased number of children at risk. Many children are dropping out of school because of hunger. Adolescent girls and children are forced into marriage and the level of violence experienced by children has increased.

When I attended COP27 as a voice of children in Africa, I carried four main messages on behalf of my peers: that more action on climate must be taken and the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement must be met; that the participation of children and young people in climate action should be increased; natural-based solutions should be used, that is, we need to use localised action to protect and restore the environment for future generations; and funding for climate problems must be increased. I was proud to represent children at the COP27 presidency's intergenerational dialogue held on children, youth and future generations. This was a step that has moved the dial toward greater participationof children in the process. I was happy to see COP27 put out some documents that recognised that children can be agents of change. We can be agents of change, and it is about time adults recognise that. I urge Ireland to continue to champion this and see how, across all its responses to climate, it can include children in a meaningful manner.

On finance and emissions, the story is not good. The loss and damage fund is needed, and it is an urgent step forward. We have been burned before, however. Leaders have failed to deliver on commitments to other sources of funding and to reach the 1.5°C target. I humbly ask the committee to consider financing all aspects of climate action. As I shared during the COP27 event, it is my hope, and the hope of the African children and youth I represent, that we will use all possible means in our power to address the effects of climate change.We must do something now to write a new history for the future generation of tomorrow. Ireland is a great supporter of Tanzania and developing nations. Our countries are requesting it be ambitious in helping to protect the planet for me and all future generations. I ask members to be part of writing that new history. Asante sana. I am grateful for this opportunity.