In brief
In Juba, South Sudan's teenage climate advocates highlighted daily challenges of flooding and drought, urging national and international authorities to provide climate‑resilient schools and early‑warning systems. At a Save the Children‑organized event, students Siama Santino and Amoko Ronny called on governments to translate COP31 pledges into concrete aid, focusing on children, sustainable agriculture, and clean energy. Their appeals include immediate relief for flood‑affected families and investment in resilient infrastructure.
In Juba, South Sudan, a group of teenage climate activists has demanded that national and international leaders move beyond lofty pledges and implement concrete measures to protect vulnerable communities ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Turkey.
The students, organized by Save the Children and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, called for climate‑resilient school infrastructure, upgraded early‑warning systems and direct relief for families affected by recent floods. They also urged investment in sustainable agriculture, clean energy and emergency preparedness training for displaced households.
Siama Santino shared her daily struggle:
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,
Amoko Ronny echoed the call for children's protection:
Children must be the top priority,the 18‑year‑old said, adding that extreme heat forced local children out of classrooms in 2024 and recurring floods destroyed crops, worsening food shortages.
The event highlighted that climate shocks are exacerbating poverty and threatening education, food security and public health across South Sudan. The activists urged the government and civil society organisations to fund practical projects that embed climate resilience into education, national adaptation plans and early‑warning systems.
