25/01/10

Six teens named as Wales' new Climate Change Champions

Six teenagers from across the country are set to become figureheads for young people on climate change after winning a Welsh Assembly Government competition.

Nathan Sutcliffe, 16, from Dolgellau, Huda Zahid, 17, from Bangor, Sebastian Giraud, 14, from Porthmadog, Rose Stevens, 15, from Vale of Glamorgan, Cyril Moyo, 18, from Brecon  and Jenni Derrick, 15, from Port Talbot, take up the prestigious roles following a nationwide search for young people passionate enough about the environment to become Climate Change Champions.

The ‘Climate Change Champions' competition was launched in 2008 to find six young people to use their influence to persuade their friends, families and communities to do their bit to help Wales reduce its carbon footprint.

The six youngsters will spend a year ‘in office' spreading the word about how people can take simple but effective steps to reduce their carbon footprint while saving money at the same time.

To win the competition, the green teens impressed the judges with their views on the COP15 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and their plans for an ongoing community-based carbon-saving project.

Their busy schedule for 2010 will include visiting and taking part in a wide range of eco-friendly projects, participating in the Welsh Assembly Government's Climate Change Commission and meeting politicians and environmental experts.  

They will also organise events in schools and community groups across Wales to highlight the positive steps people can take to ‘go green'.  To make sure the voice of young people can be heard at a high level, they will ask young people across Wales their opinions on the topics considered by the Commission.

Jenni, who attends Dyffryn Upper School in Margam, said: "I'm passionate about saving the planet and helping people across Wales to understand the simple, everyday things we can do to help save energy, money and preserve the environment.

"For my project I plan to start an initiative called ‘Growing Green', encouraging primary schools throughout Wales to help their pupils and their families to grow their own vegetables, helping reduce their food miles and carbon footprint."

Sebastian, who attends Ysgol Eifionydd, in Porthmadog, said: "I feel that people do not always understand climate change and I see my time as a Climate Change Champion as a really good opportunity to educate my community on how they can easily tackle climate change."

The new Climate Change Champions will be announced by Environment Minister Jane Davidson at a launch on the 25th January at BTCV's Forest Farm conservation centre in Cardiff. The Champions will become ‘Carbon Doctors' for the day by examining how the UK's leading conservation charity, BTCV, has reduced  its carbon footprint by 14.6 % since 2006.

The Champions will be equipped with energy monitors to identify how much energy different appliances use. They will also be learning how Forest Farm compost simply and how it can be done easily in the home. The Champions will then get the chance to see the centre's water harvesting system.  

Environment Minister, Jane Davidson said: "The standard of this year's entries were very high and the winners are outstanding.

"Young people play a vital role by sharing the climate change messages with their friends, relatives and local communities. They inspire people to do their bit to reduce their carbon footprint and I look forward to working with the Champions over the year ahead."

For more information about the Champions and their projects please visit http://www.walescarbonfootprint.gov.uk/