Shell Commits $300,000 To Environmental Education

MEDIA RELEASE FROM UNITED AIRLINES MEDIACOM-RELEASE-SHELL-NZ-AND-WWF-FUND

Shell Commits $300,000 To Environmental Education At WWF-NZ

Shell New Zealand has committed more than $300,000 over the next five years towards environmental education at the World Wide Fund for Nature - New Zealand.

The money will be used for teaching in the Shell Classroom in WWF's national headquarters at the Treehouse in Wellington's Botanic Gardens.

Shell Managing Director, John Fletcher, says Shell has had a long-standing relationship with the World Wide Fund for Nature, which has included sponsorship of research into the rare Southern Right Whale.

Shell also established the Shell Classroom which provides curriculum-based environmental education to about 9000 school children each year. Students learn about biodiversity and conservation of plants and animals, oceans, endangered species, and fresh water environments.

Mr Fletcher says that as a company which works hard to discover new sources of energy, Shell also works hard to ensure that the environment does not suffer in the exploration process.

"As we continue to satisfy increasing demands for energy, it's all to easy to overlook the importance of the environment on which we all depend. Shell is acutely aware of the high costs to be paid for ignoring environment issues, and believes its has a responsibility to support positive environmental initiatives."

Shell is committed to balancing economic progress with environmental care and social responsibility, Mr Fletcher says.

"By investing in environmental education, particularly at school level, we believe we're making a constructive contribution towards the preservation of our precious natural heritage for future generations."

World Wide Fund for Nature Acting Chief Executive, Paul Bowe, says Shell's generosity is fantastic.

"It will allow us to expand our programmes around the country. We are extremely grateful to Shell for that opportunity."

The Shell sponsored WWF teacher is Jonathan Insall, the former Principal of Weedons School near Christchurch.

Mr Insall says the Shell sponsorship will allow him to implement a raft of new programmes over the coming year. These include environmental holiday programmes for Wellington children, new connections to other environmental organisations such as the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education, and welcoming 3000 American school students to the Shell classroom in June and July.

ENDS....

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