Young kiwis to represent NZ at UN climate change forum

Wellington, 8 July 2009. – Five young New Zealanders will get the chance to put their ideas and concerns on climate change to world leaders.

The kiwi climate ambassadors, aged between 14-17 years old, will be among more than 160 delegates from 40 countries at the UN Children’s Fund Children’s Climate Forum in Copenhagen (28 November-5 December).

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 and try to reach an agreement on how to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

The 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.

UN Children’s Fund International Advocacy Manager, Sarah Morris, says that many exceptionally talented young people from around the country applied for the chance to take part in the forum.

“All of the five selected have demonstrated an enthusiasm for environmental issues and a desire to make the world a better place.

“Their hands-on involvement in practical campaigns and projects provides a solid grounding that they can take with them to the children’s forum.”

Erana of Whangarei led an award-winning community river restoration project in her home town that included tree planting and in-water workshops. She presented the results to an overseas conference in 2007.

Rick helped organise the recent climate change ‘Freeze Focus’ campaign in Auckland and played a key role in auditing and reducing the energy use of his school. Phoebe, an Enviro-Challenge Ambassador, led a team of young people in auditing and reducing her school’s energy, water and waste use, making them the first carbon-neutral school in New Zealand.

In Nelson, Travis is an innovative young filmmaker who is passionate about the environment. He made a DVD version of his school yearbook last year. Abby initiated a youth-led No Plastic Bags supermarket campaign in Nelson, organised a celebrity eco-bags art exhibition displayed at Te Papa, and working with a local supermarket to start an eco-month.

Ms Morris says the forum gives young people’s voices a chance to be heard in the climate change debate.

“The decisions taken by world leaders at the UN conference will affect children and young people’s lives today and shape their world of tomorrow.

“Almost half of the world’s population is younger than 25 years old, so it is essential to involve children and young people in finding a sustainable solution to environmental issues.

Ms Morris says that the kiwi climate ambassadors will complete a number of tasks in the lead up to the forum, including gathering data about climate change in region, listening to the climate-related concerns of other young people, and making recommendations on tackling climate change issues in New Zealand, the South Pacific and globally.

More information about the kiwi participants is at http://www.unicef.org.nz/page/282/KiwiClimateAmbassadors.html

ENDS

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