UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund)
Media Advisory

Climate experts to brief young Kiwi ambassadors

Wellington, 26 August 2009. – Government and academic experts will share their expertise on climate change at the first of three NZ workshops preparing a group of young Kiwis for the international stage.

The five Kiwi climate ambassadors – from Whangarei, Auckland, Rotorua and Nelson and aged between 14-17 – will converge on Wellington this weekend (29-30 August) for two days of intensive briefings and discussions about climate change.

Organised by UNICEF in partnership with EnviroChallenge, the workshop is part of homework ahead of the ambassadors attending the UN Children’s Fund Climate Forum in Copenhagen (28 November-5 December).

UNICEF International Advocacy Manager, Sarah Morris, says that the Wellington workshop is an opportunity for the young people to come together and hear first-hand from a number of climate experts.

“A member of the Ministry for the Environment’s Emissions Trading Policy Team will talk about the climate change negotiating process including the Kyoto Protocol and NZ’s international position on key issues.

“Two Ministry of Transport speakers will cover NZ climate change policies, biofuels and electric vehicles, and international aviation and maritime emissions.

“And a Victoria University doctoral student, who is studying the impact of introducing electric vehicles to NZ, will give an overview of climate change science.

“We are privileged to have such a talented range of speakers willing to share with the ambassadors and other young people their knowledge and expertise about climate change.

“It is important for young people to engage with climate change issues because they are part of the future generations that will increasingly live with the consequences of environmental changes.”

The rest of the workshop will cover issues such as learning about other young peoples’ views on climate change; how to do an environmental audit of their school or home; and preparing for an upcoming climate debate.

Ms Morris says the ambassadors will also be thinking about how they are going to fund raise more than $10,000 to enable four young people from the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati to attend the forum in Copenhagen. Sea level rises associated with climate change are expected to take a heavy toll on the low-lying islands of Kiribati.

The UNICEF Climate Forum in Copenhagen will attract more than 160 delegates from 40 countries. Recommendations from the children’s forum will go to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change immediately following, at which state leaders will discuss climate change issues.

The five Kiwi climate ambassadors are: Erana Walker (17) Whangarei; Rick Zwaan (16) Auckland; Phoebe Hunt (17) Rotorua; Travis Mills (14) Nelson; and Abby Ward (17) Nelson.

ENDS

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