The Impact of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child on Environmental Justice: A Comparative Policy Analysis

Children are the most vulnerable to environmental harms due to their developing stages, heightened health risks, and dependence on adults, despite contributing the least to environmental damage. While children are increasingly in environmental justice frameworks, their rights remain underrepresented in environmental governance. This study explores the potential of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and General Comment No. 26 (GC26) to advance child-centered environmental protections. Through a comparative analysis of Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S., this study examines how countries have (or fail to) incorporate the UNCRC and GC26 into legal systems, national legislation, and children’s participation in national environmental governance. This study finds that even ratifying nations have underutilized the UNCRC and guidance from GC26, highlighting the limited enforceability of the UNCRC and the need for stronger national incorporation. This study contributes to global environmental justice discourse by exploring how children’s rights can advance intergenerational equity and offers recommendations for future research and policy development.