CRC/C/GC/26 98. When determining the appropriateness of their mitigation measures in accordance with the Convention, and also mindful of the need to prevent and address any potential adverse effects of those measures, States should take into account the following criteria: (a) Mitigation objectives and measures should clearly indicate how they respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights under the Convention. States should transparently and explicitly focus on children’s rights when preparing, communicating and updating nationally determined contributions.29 This obligation extends to other processes, including biennial transparency reports, international assessments and reviews and international consultations and analyses;30 (b) States have an individual responsibility to mitigate climate change in order to fulfil their obligations under the Convention and international environmental law, including the commitment contained in the Paris Agreement to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2030.31 Mitigation measures should reflect each State party’s fair share of the global effort to mitigate climate change, in the light of the total reductions necessary to protect against continuing and worsening violations of children’s rights. Each State, and all States working together, should continuously strengthen climate commitments in line with the highest possible ambition and their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities. High-income States should continue to take the lead by undertaking economy-wide absolute emission reduction targets, and all States should enhance their mitigation measures in the light of their different national circumstances in a manner that protects children’s rights to the maximum possible extent;32 (c) Successive mitigation measures and updated pledges should represent the efforts of States in a progression over time, 33 keeping in mind that the time frame for preventing catastrophic climate change and harm to children’s rights is shorter and requires urgent action; (d) Short-term mitigation measures should take into consideration the fact that delaying a rapid phase out of fossil fuels will result in higher cumulative emissions and thereby greater foreseeable harm to children’s rights; (e) Mitigation measures cannot rely on removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere in the future through unproven technologies. States should prioritize rapid and effective emissions reductions now in order to support children’s full enjoyment of their rights in the shortest possible period of time and to avoid irreversible damage to nature. 34 99. States should discontinue subsidies to public or private actors for investments in activities and infrastructure that are inconsistent with low greenhouse gas emission pathways, as a mitigation measure to prevent further damage and risk. 100. Developed States should assist developing countries in planning and implementing mitigation measures, in order to help children in vulnerable situations. The assistance could include providing financial and technical expertise and information and other capacitybuilding measures that specifically contribute to the prevention of harm to children caused by climate change.35 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 GE.23-11144 Paris Agreement, art. 4 (2). Ibid., art. 14 (4). Ibid., art. 2 (1) (a); and Sacchi et al. v. Argentina (CRC/C/88/D/104/2019), para. 10.6. See also Sacchi et al. v. Brazil (CRC/C/88/D/105/2019), Sacchi et al. v. France (CRC/C/88/D/106/2019) and Sacchi et al. v. Germany (CRC/C/88/D/107/2019) and Sacchi et al. v. Turkey (CRC/C/88/D/108/2019). Paris Agreement, art. 4 (4). Ibid., arts. 3 and 4 (3). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, arts. 4 (1) (h)–(j) and (2) (b); and Paris Agreement, preamble and arts. 4 (8), 12 and 13. Paris Agreement, art. 13 (9). 17