Kiwi teens to international environment conference

Kiwi teens to represent NZ at international environment conference

Four young New Zealanders, aged between 13–18, will be travelling to Brazil next week to participate in a major international youth conference.

Almost 600 children and young people from more than 60 countries will participate in the ‘Lets Take Care of the Planet’ conference, where they will discuss global socio-environmental issues with a focus on climate change.

The delegates are Nicola Thomas and Rongomai Grbic-Hoskins (both from Auckland), Erica Finney (Wellington) and Travis Mills (Nelson). Travis participated in last year’s UNICEF Children’s Climate Forum in Copenhagen ahead of the COP 15 and is currently a UNICEF Climate Ambassador, a programme that was carried out in partnership with Enviro-Challenge.

Travis and his fellow Climate Kiwis have been assisting Response by facilitating preparatory meetings for the Brazil conference, and will be participating in a national youth leadership meeting in Raglan this weekend run by The Enviroschools Foundation as part of the ReGeneration project.

The Raglan meeting will prepare a national Charter and DVD presentation to be sent with the delegation to Brazil. This will contribute to the international ‘Lets Take Care of the Planet’ Charter: a document of youth aspirations and suggestions for a better world. It follows discussions between young people from New Zealand and Vanuatu about environmental responsibility and climate change.

Response Trust spokesperson, Betsan Martin, says: “The people best suited to answer questions about environmental responsibility are those most invested in its outcome. The youth of today are our future leaders, and it is essential they be empowered and equipped for future challenges.”

UNICEF NZ International Advocacy Manager, Vicki Soanes, says: “This is a great opportunity for young people from around the world to express their views about issues that have such a serious and long-term affect on their generation.”

The four New Zealand delegates are being facilitated and sponsored by Response Trust in partnership with The Enviroschools Foundation.

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