MEDIA RELEASE: 2pm, Friday 20th November, 2009.

Young environmental leaders heading to Copenhagen with clear message

Five secondary school students from around New Zealand will be heading to the International Youth Climate Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark with a clear message for world leaders – address climate change now.

One of the five ambassadors, Phoebe Hunt (17), from Rotorua explains:

“World leaders need to understand that the young people of today will be inheriting the challenge of climate change. If today’s leaders don’t act now the challenge may become insurmountable”

The Youth Forum directly precedes the main climate talks and a statement from young people will be put into the main agenda.

The five New Zealand youth delegates are:

Phoebe Hunt (17) Rorotua
Travis Mills (14) Nelson
Erana Walker (17) Whangarei
Abby Ward (17) Nelson
Rick Zwaan (16) Auckland

The New Zealand delegation has been supported by UNICEF New Zealand and The Enviro Challenge Trust, which works with high schools on addressing environmental challenges. A number of supporting corporates and organisations have made financial contributions to make New Zealand’s youth voice heard in Copenhagen – Envirostate, Scion, Mighty River Power, Nelson Environment Centre, Department of Internal Affairs, Enviro-Schools Foundation and GreenPeace Sign On.

ENDS

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