EPA Creating a New Climate for Action

Creating a New Climate for Action - Campaign Provides Tools  for Students to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Washington(RUSHPRNEWS)Oct. 6, 2008 To honor Child Health Day, EPA's Office of Children's Health Protection and Environmental Education is launching a campaign to educate middle and high school students about climate change, its effects on children's health, and actions teens can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become Climate Ambassadors in their communities.

"Young people have been the motivation behind recycling efforts and they can play an equally important role with climate change," said Ruth McCully, director of EPA's Office of Children's Health Protection and Environmental Education. "Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will create a healthier environment to live, learn and play."

The goals of EPA's "Climate Change and Children's Health Education" campaign are three-fold: 1) help young people understand the connections between climate change and children's health; 2) encourage middle and high school students to take actions to reduce their personal energy use; and 3) mobilize youth-based organizations and other interested organizations to actively engage young people in efforts to address climate change and children's health.

As part of the campaign, EPA is launching a Web site for middle and high school students. The Web site will include many tools for young people, including criteria describing how to become a Climate Ambassador, a downloadable presentation, sample proclamation and daily action steps. The Web site will also include links to a carbon calculator for young people and blog postings by an EPA intern.

Information about the campaign and Climate Ambassadors: http://www.epa.gov/climateforaction/

To view EPA's video and podcast, Green Scene, on the "Climate Change and Children's Health Education" campaign, visit: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/MMWebCon.nsf/HTML/RRUO-7JXQ2X?OpenDocument

Contact: Enesta Jones, (202) 564-4355 / jones.enesta@epa.gov