Baker McKenzie and Iberdrola warn about the lack of protocols to protect children from climate disasters

The World Congress Justice with Children 2025, held this week in Madrid under the auspices of the UN, UNESCO, UNICEF and the European Union, has served as the setting for the presentation of a pioneering report on children’s climate justice prepared by Baker McKenzie and Iberdrola. The study analyses how 25 jurisdictions respond to the lack of protection for children in the care of the state when floods, heat waves or other extreme events linked to climate change occur.

Angela Vigil, global head of Baker McKenzie’s Pro Bono practice, says: ‘It is critical that we address the challenges that climate change imposes on juvenile justice systems. Our report highlights the urgency of implementing emergency protocols and mitigation measures to protect children in situations of natural disasters. The pro bono collaboration with Iberdrola has been essential in bringing this project to fruition, demonstrating our commitment to children’s climate justice and the protection of children’s rights.’

Lack of systematic response

The report highlights the need for protocols in justice systems that protect children in emergency situations, especially in the face of natural disasters such as floods and heat waves. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between governments and organisations to implement disaster mitigation and preparedness measures, ensuring greater protection of children’s rights.

All the conclusions are the result of the joint work of Baker McKenzie and Iberdrola teams in Spain, the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Scotland, including the subsidiaries Iberdrola Mexico, Scottish Power, Neoenergia and Avangrid.

Good practices and regulatory gaps

In the European context, it is mentioned that in Scotland there are safe care standards published by the Scottish Government in October 2020, aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. These standards focus on providing a safe and comfortable environment for children in care. In addition, the lack of specific climate emergency response measures in juvenile justice facilities in the UK is highlighted, highlighting the need for greater attention and action in this area.

For María Elena Sanz, global head of Iberdrola’s pro bono programme, ‘these types of agreements are necessary for society, and offer young people and children – who are the future agents of change in the energy transition – legal tools for their transformation. They also demonstrate the commitment of the legal profession to this vulnerable group of the population who, without having contributed to the acceleration of climate change, will suffer its consequences for the rest of their lives’.

The JWC Global Initiative – co-sponsored by the Terre des hommes Foundation – will continue to promote, based on the findings of the report, policy recommendations and best practices for juvenile justice to be able to respond to the climate crisis with a rights-based and preventive approach.