 Tomorrow's
climate, today's challenge
Defra
National Search Launched Today for UK's First Ever Young
"Climate Change Champions"
Climate Change Minister Elliot Morley today launched a national
search for nine young people, each representing regions across
England, who will act as the voices of climate change in their
region.
The search for nine young climate change champions is part
of the Government's Climate Change Communications initiative
"Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge" - a three-year
drive to communicate the threat of climate change and the
need for everyone - Government; industry and individuals,
to help tackle the problem. The initiative was launched by
Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett and Mr Morley last
month.
The young climate change champions will spend a year "in
office" spreading the world about climate change to their
region through local activities.
They will also have a number of engagements throughout the
year, including a fact-finding tour to Switzerland to witness
the effects of climate change at the Gurschen glacier. They
will also have the opportunity to meet with a senior Government
Minister to discuss climate change in the UK and their ideas
for how to communicate about this issue.
Mr Morley, who will launch the search for the climate change
champions, at Morpeth School, Portman Place, London later
today, said:
"The Government is committed to tackling climate
change. We owe it to future generations to do all we can to
change public attitudes in favour of a more climate-friendly
way of life.
"Young people in Britain care deeply about the environment
and they have a vital role to play as champions in their communities.
I very much look forward to seeing the ideas put forward by
prospective climate change champions and meeting the final
nine once they are selected."
The youth competition is open to any young person aged between
10-18 years. Entrants will be required to submit their own
communication about climate change together with why they
believe they should be selected as a champion to Defra. Entries
may be in the form of a news report about climate change.
This can be done in a variety of ways, such as front page
of a newspaper, a web news page, video, short film, radio
feature or other innovative medium - covering how climate
change is affecting the UK, why it is important that everyone
should know about the issue and how can we work together to
tackle it. The deadline for entries will be March 31, 2006.
Entries will be judged by a panel of communications and climate
change experts. Mr Morley will also be involved in the selection
process.
Shortlisted entrants will be invited to London for interview
by members of the panel. The final nine will be chosen based
on their communication skills, teamwork and enthusiasm for
communicating about climate change.
In addition to their visit to Switzerland, the climate change
champions will also attend key climate change events throughout
the year, receive communication skills training and have the
opportunity to meet with some of the UK's leading climate
change agencies to learn more about climate change and how
it is affecting their region.
Climate Challenge Fund opens for applications:
Mr Morley also announced that opening of the Climate Challenge
Fund for applications from organisations and charities wishing
to communicate about climate change. So far, more than 280
organisations have registered their interest in the £6m
fund, which is to be spread over two years. The deadline for
the close of applications is March 31, 2006.
The delivery element of the Climate Change Communications
Initiative was launched on December 1. The CCCI launch package
include a slogan, website, a printed communications guide,
short information film, radio advertising and the Climate
Challenge Fund criteria. Full details are available on the
new CCCI website - http://www.climatechallenge.gov.uk
or from the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/051201c.htm
Defra has been working with "The Newspaper" - the
only publication distributed free to schools around the country
- to advertise the climate change champions initiative. This
means that the competition can be delivered in the classroom
as part of citizenship learning and competition entries can
be supported by teachers in the classroom environment.
Applicants to both the Climate Change Champions 2006 competition
can obtain more information from the http://www.climatechallenge.gov.uk
website. Applicants to the Climate Challenge Fund can download
application forms and additional information from the same
website.
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Website http://www.defra.gov.uk
Click
here for a complete list of books about climate change
|
