In brief
Facing rising floods, drought and heat, South Sudan’s youth are urging the government and donors to invest in climate‑resilient schools, early‑warning systems and immediate relief during a period of COP31 negotiations. 17‑year‑old Siama Santino and 18‑year‑old Amoko Ronny highlighted how poor infrastructure and delayed aid worsen poverty and food insecurity.
On October 30, 2026, in Juba, South Sudan’s capital, a group of teenage climate activists gathered at an event hosted by Save the Children and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to push national authorities and international partners to turn lofty climate pledges into tangible actions as the world prepares for COP31 in Antalya, Turkey.
Sri Siama Santino, a 17‑year‑old high‑school student, described her daily ordeal: “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,” she told Xinhua reporters.
Her words echo a broader crisis: widespread flooding, drought and heat have amplified threats to education, food security and public health across South Sudan. The protestees, who span a range of age groups, demanded that the government and donors invest in climate‑resilient school infrastructure, upgraded early‑warning systems and immediate relief for families affected by disasters.
Amoko Ronny, an 18‑year‑old student and children’s council representative, warned of compounding poverty. He recalled that in 2024 extreme heat forced local children to pause classroom attendance for two weeks, while recurring floods destroyed crops, increasing food shortages. “Children must be the top priority,” Ronny said, calling for greater investment in climate education, resilient schools and early‑warning systems.
Ronny also urged the government and civil society organisations to support sustainable agriculture and promote clean energy, highlighting the need to reduce reliance on charcoal and curb environmental degradation. He added that “practical alternatives must be found” to protect the livelihoods of the most vulnerable.
Siama Santino insisted that effective adaptation requires empowering families with a clearer understanding of climate risks: “We need expanded climate education, emergency preparedness training and targeted humanitarian aid for households displaced by flooding and other climate disasters.” She added that “the world leaders must prioritize immediate action” at COP31.
The activists’ appeals are directed at a national meeting that coincides with the 31st session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which runs from November 9 to 20 in Antalya. They are urging that the high‑level commitments made at COP31 translate into concrete, locally led projects that safeguard the health and future of South Sudan’s children.
