Students ready to combat climate change will come together today (19 August 2009) for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Reef Guardian School's Future Leaders Eco Challenge (FLEC).

This year's travelling education road show themed 'Kids Combat Climate Change' will give school students the chance to come together to share ideas, learn from each other and showcase their school and community sustainability initiatives.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Reef Guardian Schools Program Manager Megan Sperring said this was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the great environmental projects schools in the Gladstone area are working on.

 “Students participating in the FLEC will be travelling between different local project sites, to see some impressive activities schools and community organisations are undertaking to improve sustainability practices in the region," she said.

"By taking students to different locations we will be exposing them to a wide variety of projects which will assist students to think outside the square and encourage them to come up with activities they can implement at their own schools."

Ross Greenhalgh, Health, Safety, Environment and Communities Manager from Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) said the Reef Guardian Schools Program is a fantastic initiative which inspires local students to protect the local environment.  

"QAL is a strong supporter of the Reef Guardian Schools program which offers students the opportunity to partake in some very worthwhile environmental projects which benefit not only the school but the local community," he said.

"Today's FLEC is a wonderful demonstration of what has been achieved by schools in the local area and it is great to see students from different schools coming together to share ideas and their passion for protecting the Great Barrier Reef,"

The Gladstone FLEC is one of 14 taking place over the next three months across the Great Barrier Reef catchment.