Meaningful Participation or Tokenism?

This article examines the participation of Sámi children and youth in Norway’s climate and green energy transition, focusing on the intersection of Indigenous rights, children’s rights and climate and environmental governance. It critiques the limitations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child ( crc ) and Norway’s legal frameworks, which often reduce Indigenous children and youth’s participation to tokenistic consultations rather than meaningful engagement. Drawing on case studies such as the Fosen protests, it highlights the transformative agency of Sámi youth in challenging systemic injustices and advocating for intergenerational justice. Applying a postpaternalism lens, the paper argues for a shift from adult-centric decision and policymaking to recognising children and youth as active agents in shaping climate policies. By integrating Indigenous knowledge and perspectives, the paper calls for legal and institutional reforms that ensure meaningful participation and uphold the rights of Sámi children and youth in climate governance.