Archived press release

Schools invited to Shout About climate change

1 December 2008

Case studies, pictures and video footage of schools which have taken part in previous Shout About activities are available

Friends of the Earth is calling on schools and youth groups across the UK to sign up to its Shout About activity week. The project will show young people how to take action to tackle climate change in their local communities - supporting the major cuts in carbon emissions required by the Climate Change Act, which became law last week (26 November 2008).

Shout About is a week of activities for 11-13 year-olds, designed to help young people take positive action to beat climate change. Participating schools and youth groups will receive a detailed information pack including a CD with video, web and interactive whiteboard resource, plus booklets packed with curriculum-linked activities and lesson ideas.

The next activity week (2-6 March 2009) will show young people what they can do to shrink their own carbon footprint, in line with the cuts required by the climate change law. More importantly, it will also teach them how to make changes in their school and local area by joining with other people to help prevent climate change.

More than 200,000 people supported The Big Ask, Friends of the Earth's campaign for a new law to tackle climate change - launched in 2005 by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke. The climate change law makes the UK the first country in the world to set a legally binding target for cutting the amount of greenhouse gases we release into the atmosphere up to 2050.

Friends of the Earth's Youth and Education coordinator Vicki Felgate said:

"The Climate Change Act commits the UK to cutting our carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 - this means we all need to reduce our emissions. So this year's Shout About activity week looks at what young people can do to reduce their own carbon footprint and how they can influence change within their school and community."

"Each year we get great feedback from schools, youth groups and young people who have taken part in Shout About - we're really keen to get as many people as possible involved in this year's activity week."

Shout About 2009 will take place from 2-6 March and over 1100 schools and youth groups have already signed up to take part in the week-long project dedicated to educating 11-13 year olds. Shout About 2008 attracted 1600 schools and youth groups with over 30,000 pupils being inspired by solutions to climate change.

Notes:

1. For more information about Shout About 2009 see: www.foe.co.uk/learning/educators/shout_about
2. For inspirational case studies from Shout About 2008 see the newsletter here: www.foe.co.uk/resource/newslettersspace¬
/shout_about_climate_soluti0.pdf
3. For a video showing the highlights of Shout About 2008 see: www.foe.co.uk/learning/educators/shout_about/space¬
shout_about_climate_change_video.html
4. Climate Change Bill
The Climate Change Act will require the UK to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent (based on 1990 levels) by 2050.
A series of five year interim 'targets' will also be set - which will take the UK's share of international aviation and shipping emissions into account and ensure that the target is kept on track. The Committee on Climate Change is due to recommend the first five year 'budget' periods on 1 December 2008 (see note 3).
The campaign for this historic and groundbreaking new legislation was led by Friends of the Earth through The Big Ask campaign, which was launched in 2005 with Radiohead front man Thom Yorke and supported by 200,000 people.
A short history of The Big Ask can be found at:
www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/news/big_ask_history_15798.html

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust