Why Climate Action Must Start With Our Youngest: My Experience at the ECD and Climate Change Workshop

By Shristi Gautam, National Lead, Nepal Front.

From April 6–8, 2025, I had the privilege of representing WYCJ at a powerful workshop on Early Childhood Development (ECD) and climate change. Organized by UNICEF Nepal in partnership with ARNEC and Vital Strategies, the workshop brought 25 passionate youth advocates together in the lush, peaceful surroundings of Godavari. Each of us came with a shared purpose: to understand how we can protect the planet and the most vulnerable people on it.

My journey in climate advocacy has largely centered around policy change, legal reform, and mobilizing youth. But this workshop opened my eyes to a perspective I hadn’t explored deeply before: the profound, often invisible impact of climate change on children aged 0 to 8. I realized just how absent early childhood is from our climate conversations. And yet, those earliest years are when the consequences hit hardest. A child’s brain is nearly 90% developed by age eight. It’s a time of rapid growth and extreme vulnerability. In Nepal, where floods, landslides, extreme heat, and poor air quality are worsening, children are growing up in environments that threaten not just their future, but their very development. Respiratory diseases caused by air pollution are now the leading cause of death among children in Nepal and South Asia. Malnutrition isn’t far behind. These aren't just statistics. They are a wake-up call.

Why Must We Start Younger?

Climate policy often begins with youth aged 18 and above. But what about infants? Toddlers? Unborn children already affected by environmental stress through their mothers? This gap in thinking became a central theme of the workshop and a powerful call to action. We talked about how early childhood development is almost entirely missing from climate frameworks, despite its critical importance. If we’re truly serious about climate justice, we can’t afford to ignore the youngest and most voiceless among us.

Learning With Heart and Intention

The workshop was of course about information and also about immersion. Through creative storytelling, collaborative activities, and hands-on sessions, we connected deeply with the material and with each other. We explored real-world case studies from across the Asia-Pacific region, tackled issues like air pollution and lead poisoning, and used systems thinking to explore how environmental hazards intersect with public health and early learning. A standout session for me was on ethical storytelling, an essential reminder that working with and for children requires responsibility, not just passion. We also had space to create: producing video campaigns, building advocacy showcases, and drafting a policy manifesto aimed at decision-makers. Each group brought something unique, but the energy was the same - urgent, hopeful, and committed.

Turning Voice Into Action

One of the most powerful moments was presenting our joint manifesto, a set of youth-led policy demands, to government representatives. This collective statement speaks on behalf of those too young to speak for themselves. That experience gave my work new meaning. It reminded me that true climate justice means protecting future generations, starting from day one. I left Godavari with more than just knowledge. I left with a mission. Children under eight may be small, but the threats they face are not. They are the hidden front line of the climate crisis.

To anyone working in this space: I suggest starting with younger people. Looking closer. And to fully utilize the power of we, youths have to speak for those who cannot yet stand for themselves.