16 July 2007

Townsville students will share their views on climate change with the rest of the world when major US children’s television network Nickelodeon attends the Townsville Future Leaders Eco Challenge tomorrow (Tuesday).

The Eco Challenge is being facilitated by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) as part of the Reef Guardian Schools Programme and will involve more than 50 students from 9 local schools.

GBRMPA Education Manager Fred Nucifora said the theme of the Eco Challenge was: in an ever-changing world, what does climate change mean to you?

“The students have the opportunity to hear from climate change experts and share stories and experiences with other students about what their school is doing to better understand climate change,” he said.

“They will also be encouraged to network and problem solve with one another on current climate change issues, and plan for the future on what they can all do to be a part of the solution.”

Townsville Mayor Cr Tony Mooney, who will officially open the Eco Challenge, said students would be contributing to Townsville City Council’s response to climate change.

“The Eco-Challenge is an opportunity for young leaders to work on practical solutions to develop and support our response to climate change over the long-term,” Cr Mooney said.

“This will result in a school climate change plan for a sustainable Townsville.

“The plan will be developed by young people, for young people and includes a school-based approach to achieving a sustainable future.”

The Future Leaders Eco Challenge will air on the longest running kids news programme in television history Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, which airs on popular US cable network Nickelodeon.

“Nickelodeon contacted us to see if we would be a part of a special about climate change and how it affects kids from across the globe,” Mr Nucifora said.

“Nick News will be speaking with kids from all over the world who care about global warming and have seen effects of climate change in their communities.

“They were particularly interested in how global warming is affecting the health of corals in the Great Barrier Reef.”

The event is being run in conjunction with Townsville City Council and the Burdekin Dry Tropics Natural Resource Management Board.