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Making life better for people by inspiring solutions to environmental problems

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Schools in Wales join climate change week

Sixty per cent of young people, aged 8-14, are concerned that the world will suffer the effects of climate change when they are adults and more than seventy per cent of them already take action at home or school to save energy, a new survey reveals today. The results are published to mark the launch of 'Shout about climate change' week, for 11-13 year olds, which runs from 7-11 November 2005. Over 40 schools in Wales will be taking part.

The 'Shout about climate change' pack published by Friends of the Earth in Welsh and English, fits into the National Curriculum, and contains booklets of information, key facts, lesson plans and ideas for activities.
Topics can be studied as a series of lessons for teachers of Citizenship, PSE, Geography, Science, Maths, English and Art; for youth club meetings; or as part of an organised themed day or the 'Shout about climate change' week.

Chepstow Comprehensive School, Chepstow, are organising a series of Assemblies around the theme of climate change together with a dedicated wall display in the library and Geography room. Head of Geography, Des Thomson said:

"Climate change is an important part of our curriculum years 7 -13. We're planning on running Assemblies on climate change this week, and hope raising awareness on the environmental issues will inspire pupils to a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle! It's good to have a chance to discuss such an important issue."

Geography students from Fairwater High School in Cwmbran took part in a launch in May, footage of which was used to make a film about climate change. Schools across Wales are being encouraged to hold activities such as

• designing a poster on the theme 'What can we do about climate change?'
• taking part in a climate change quiz
• designing an eco-car
• running an energy audit on their school or home
• taking part in an energy saving day

Friends of the Earth Cymru's education co-ordinator, Naomi Luhde-Thompson, said:
"It's inspiring to see what the pupils at Chepstow and Fairwater are planning. We know that young people are concerned about climate change and it isn't surprising, as they are the generation which will face the worst impacts if we don't act now to tackle the problem."

Notes

The TNS survey, commissioned by Friends of the Earth, interviewed 1002 children aged 8-14 via the internet from 5-12 October 2005. The survey asked if respondents ever did any of the following and found that:

• 73% walk or cycle instead of getting a lift
• 74% make sure the TV, computer, DVD or stereo is of and not on stand-by
• 82% make sure they switch the lights off when they leave a room

The 'Shout about climate change' pack, published by Friends of the Earth, is a free resource for teachers and contains key facts, ideas for lesson plans, assemblies and activities such as how to design an eco car, a climate quiz or role play.

The pack, which links in with the National Curriculum, also has details of a free DVD with visual resources and a poster design competition. Topics can be studied as a series of lessons for teachers of PSE, Geography, Science, Maths, English and Art.

Teachers and youth workers can sign up for a free pack on www.foe.co.uk/learning/educators/ or call Friends of the Earth on 020 7490 1555.

To sign up for a Welsh language pack, call Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577.

Around 1,500 schools have requested Friends of the Earth's 'Shout about climate change' pack and hundreds have signed up to take part in the 'Shout about climate change' poster design competition.

In May 2005 Friends of the Earth launched a new multi-media climate change campaign, The Big Ask www.thebigask.com. The Big Ask cinema ad, which features children aged 3-11 speaking about climate change, is running in dozens of cinemas. Still pictures, audio and video clips of the ad are available on request.