Minister of Energy and Lord of the Rings actor sowing the seeds for climate change learning

Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change Hon Pete Hodgson will launch a special climate change booklet for students at South Wellington Intermediate on Tuesday 15 October, 9-10am.

Students from the school’s cultural team will welcome the Minister and New Zealand actor Bret McKenzie (who has become an Internet celebrity as elf character “Figwit” from Lord of the Rings and is a member of award-winning local band the Blackseeds).

Climate Change 2, the second climate change booklet for young people produced by the New Zealand Climate Change Project, has been sent to schools nationwide to help students learn more about what they can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the key areas of energy, transport and waste. It includes discussion starters, facts, activities, and web links for further research. Students are asked to provide feedback on some of the ideas in the booklet and details of projects they are involved in to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“We want to get the message across to young people that they can do something about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and sharing ideas and activities for doing so is a great starting point,” says Hon Pete Hodgson. “Our young people will drive climate change policy in the future and feedback they give us from the booklet will help shape that future policy.”

The Minister will introduce Climate Change 2 to the assembly and then two students from the school’s Future Problem Solving Group will give their views on the booklet.

Following this, the Minister and Bret McKenzie will view some of the environmentally friendly activities undertaken at the school, including recycling schemes and native tree plantings.

During the first round of consultation last year, the first climate change booklet was sent to schools examining the global phenomenon of climate change, outlining the aims of the Kyoto Protocol and asking students what they thought New Zealand should do about greenhouse gas emissions. Over 600 responses were received. Students’ feedback is posted on the climate change project website: www.climatechange.govt.nz The launch of Climate Change 2 takes place at South Wellington Intermediate, 30 Waripori St, Newtown.

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