CCCL and Save the Children Host “Children in Focus: Climate Change Film Screening and Dialogue” at Bangkok Climate Action Week (BKKCAW)

On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 1, 2025, CCCL and Save the Children co-organized a film screening and discussion event titled “Children in Focus: Climate Change Film Screening and Dialogue” as part of the Bangkok Climate Action Week (BKKCAW). The event took place at the Auditorium, 5th floor, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC).

The program began with screenings of three short films highlighting the impacts of the climate crisis on children and youth from natural disasters and urban heat to waste pollution. The selected films included:

CONE (콘) by Yoo Ji-in

Seven-year-old Minwoo takes on a weekly summer challenge from the children’s TV show Mission In: Reduce Waste to win a one-of-a-kind special gift.

I WAS JUST A CHILD by Breech Asher Harani

Using the ancient art of shadow puppetry, a young survivor narrates her community's experience coping from the mental and physical suffering caused by fatal Super Typhoons that hit the Philippines. Due to climate change and the rising sea temperature, typhoons are becoming frequent, stronger and deadlier. The film reminds us that the health of humanity depends on the health of the planet.

URBAN FLAMES (เปลวไฟเมือง) by Atawee Khositpatipat

This documentary amplifies the voices of residents of all ages from a community in Bangkok’s Khlong Toei District, enduring the sweltering heat of Thailand’s summer. With limited resources, they face the added challenge of rebuilding their lives after a devastating fire destroyed their homes on April 26, 2024.

Following the screenings, a panel discussion delved deeper into the issues raised in the films.

Speakers:

• Chaipon Juntawang, Director of Children and Youth Environmental Promotion Section

• Natthaphan Chuenmee, Youth Representative

• Thanapol Kheolamai, Climate Change Technical Expert, Save the Children

  
  

The dialogue emphasized that the climate crisis is not a distant concern but a present reality that deeply affects the lives and futures of children. The event called for greater awareness, stronger policy action, and collective responsibility to safeguard the planet for the next generation.

Panel Discussion Summary

The discussion brought together representatives from the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE), Save the Children Thailand, and youth delegates to share perspectives on the role of children and young people in shaping Thailand’s environmental policies.

A key takeaway from the session was the call to shift the perspective from “children are the future” to “children are the present” — recognizing that young people have the right to participate in decision-making and help design the world they live in today.

“We used to say that children are the future but that’s no longer true. Children are the present. They should have the right to decide what kind of environment they want to live in five or ten years from now.” - Chaipon Juntawang, Director of Children and Youth Environmental Promotion Section

Children Are Not the Future — They Are the Present

Director Ou from the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE) spoke about a necessary shift in mindset: “We used to say that youth are the future, but now they are the present because they have the power to shape the environment they will live in five or ten years from now.”

Youth representative Charmmy echoed this sentiment, adding that today’s young people are more informed and aware of environmental issues than ever before. Yet, she noted that many adults still “don’t take it seriously enough” when it comes to the future that youth will inevitably inherit.

Youth Voices from the Ground

The young speakers also highlighted environmental challenges unique to their regions — from air pollution and haze to the consequences of large-scale state projects, such as power plants in the South that generate excess electricity. Their stories underscored that environmental issues are not only about property or health, but also touch the mental, social, and emotional well-being of communities.

“I feel that many adults often say children will live longer than adults, but they don’t consider what kind of environment we will face or whether we can survive each day. I hope the future will have more enough resources for us,” - Natthaphan Chuenmee, Youth Representative

Connecting Youth Voices to National Policy

The Department of Climate Change plays a key role in bringing youth proposals into national plans, including the NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution), ACE (Action for Climate Empowerment), and NAP (National Adaptation Plan). The department aims to “elevate youth participation” from listeners to genuine policy influencers. It also organizes platforms like the Thailand Climate Action Conference to gather direct input from young people and report back on actions taken.

Meanwhile, Save the Children Thailand acts as a bridge and supporter, viewing the climate crisis as a “rights crisis” directly linked to human rights. The organization hosts ongoing initiatives, including youth-policy roundtables, creating meaningful communication spaces and helping prevent youth burnout.

From Awareness to Action

Environmental action begins with small daily steps, such as waste separation, energy saving, or tree planting under the “One Child, One Tree” initiative. Community-level programs, like Zero Waste Schools, have also succeeded in several provinces, such as Lamphun, which has been recognized as a clean city for four consecutive years.

A Call for Intergenerational Justice

The closing panel emphasized the concept of “Intergenerational Justice,” highlighting that how resources are managed today directly affects future generations, including unborn children. Youth urged adults to recognize the future they are passing on and to move from “awareness” to “concrete action.”

“I want to stress that this should not end with this panel. It’s not enough to understand or be aware, we must turn awareness into real action. Only through action can change happen,” - Thanapol Kheolamai, Climate Change Technical Expert, Save the Children

Youth voices are not just echoes from the future, they are a driving force in the present, demanding recognition as “co-creators of the world.” Sustainable change begins with creating spaces for listening, participation, and action, not just for the children of tomorrow, but for the world we all share today.