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Press Release: September 7, 2007
British Columbia Students in Showdown to save Climate
Vancouver, BC—Thousands of students across BC will participate
this year in an innovative
contest about taking action on climate change. The program
was launched in Vancouver this
week, during the first days of the 2007/8 school year, and
will come to Vancouver Island, the
Kootenays and other communities.
The BC Sustainable Energy Association’s (BCSEA) Climate
Change Showdown project is a fun and informative workshop
for Grade 5/6 students. These free classroom workshops teach
students about climate change and how they can reduce their
impact, and provides them with an incentive to carry out actions
in their homes and family lifestyles.
The Climate Change Showdown will deliver the message of action
on climate change to 500
classes and 15,000 families across the province during the
upcoming school year. It is
estimated that the Climate Change Showdown will reduce target
community greenhouse gas
emissions (by approximately 7,500 tonnes annually) and improve
air quality through the actions
of participating students and their families.
The inaugural Climate Change Showdown workshop was delivered
this week at Vancouver’s
Lord Roberts Elementary School to enthusiastic response.
“It is extremely difficult to book extra-curricular activities
during the first week of the school year,”
remarked Climate Change Showdown project manager Estella Bastidas.
“We are delighted with
the initial positive response from teachers, such as Rita
Ringdahl, grade 5 teacher at Lord
Roberts, who commented: “I am thrilled that you are able
to engage my students, early in the
school year, in a topic so essential to the survival of the
planet. The information presented is
providing a framework for activities and discussion throughout
the school year. Activities are
designed in such a way that students become a cohesive social
group. I felt confident in
booking this workshop because of the clarity and completeness
of the materials provided.”
“This is an excellent opportunity for both teachers and
students to enter the Climate Change
Showdown contest taking the fun learning to the next step
of real lasting behaviour change and
tangible action,” said BCSEA vice-president Scott Sinclair.
The BCSEA is able to offer the Climate Change Showdown workshops
thanks to generous
contributions from Environment Canada, Vancity, City of Vancouver,
Canada Mortgage and
Housing Corporation, City of Coquitlam and City of Richmond.
To learn more about the Climate Change Showdown Project, visit
www.bcsea.org/activities/ccgame/
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For more information contact:
Estella Bastidas, Project Manager
Climate Change Showdown
Phone: 604-630-8179
E-mail: ebastidas@bcsea.org
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