Children from Rotterdam design own climate agreement

The local children have worked on creative ways to reach lower CO2 targets

Rotterdam is working actively to achieve the objectives of the Paris climate agreement and the national climate agreement of the Netherlands. The Dutch municipality is involving more than a hundred companies and civil societal organizations to discuss the themes Port & Industry, Mobility, Environment, Clean Energy and Consumption. Accordingly, as an integral part of society, children are seen as valuable contributors to this debate.

Hence, a special initiative was launched to include them in the process. The Child Climate Agreement is an initiative of the municipality of Rotterdam and Archiklas. The latter encourages investigative and design-based learning for children in the city. Through the initiative the local children have been invited to think of fun, creative and innovative ways to reach the climate goals. Children from the upper classes of primary education are full of ideas and innovation potential. What is more, they talk at home at the kitchen table about what they have learned and thus - bring the subject closer to the family.

Alderman Arno Bonte (responsible for Sustainability, air quality and energy transition at the Municipality of Rotterdam) insisted that the Rotterdam climate approach was not about having many years of meetings, but about rolling up our sleeves and speeding up. This, of course, cannot be done only at a municipal level, without the involvement of society. Children are an important part of that, Bonte continues. In fact, he confirms that they have a clear picture of how sustainability can be reached together, which is inspirational. Hence, in cooperation with architects, urban planners and designers, 50 children have set to work to find a concrete solution for the complex but relevant challenge of CO2 reduction. Their ideas and solutions will be on display in the hall of Het Timmerhuis until 11 July.

Source: Municipality of Rotterdam