24 August 2005

Teaching a new generation to take care of their city

Auckland City has launched its latest state of the environment update this week. As in previous years, the update is particularly focused on educating school children about the environment and focuses on making smart transport choices.

The 2004/2005 update provides a colourful insight into the city¡¦s environmental health and encourages children to play their part by way of a board game focusing on transport use.

The information is available to anyone on request but has been specifically targeted at primary and intermediate school children to promote good habits while allowing them to have fun and learn about their city.

Students can use the printed update in conjunction with information on Auckland City¡¦s website (www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/environment) to learn about factors affecting Auckland¡¦s environment. These include:
„h air quality
„h energy efficiency and climate change
„h hazardous substances and contaminated land
„h heritage
„h noise
„h transport
„h urban growth
„h waste.

The resource provides tips on how people can make a difference in each area and the game focuses specifically on transport, taking children on a trip from their home to the school using a variety of convenient and attractive travel options.

Councillor Christine Caughey, chairperson of the Environment, Heritage and Urban Form Committee, says that ensuring children are aware of environmental issues at a young age enables them to have a lasting, positive effect on the environment throughout their lives.

¡§Children pick up ideas very quickly and by teaching them early on about how they can play their part to maintain the environment, this knowledge enables them to make a real contribution to ensuring Auckland¡¦s sustainable future over the course of their lives," says Ms Caughey.

¡§These important messages can be passed on to their families and friends, who may also make changes to their habits because of what they have learned.¡¨

The council is legally required to provide information about the city¡¦s environmental status and does this by producing a comprehensive report once every three years with updates in the interim years. The next full report will be published in 2006.

For more information on the 2004/2005 state of the environment update or to request a copy of the resource, phone (09) 379 2020 or visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/environment.

ENDS

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