Life of Guangzhou - Young "Ambassadors" Promote Climate Change Awareness

"Tomorrow's climate is today's challenge." On July 24, at the end of a video clip shown at the British Council's Climate Cool project, those words reminded everyone how much the climate influences our daily life.

Young "Ambassadors" watch the video at the office of the British Council (BC) in Guangzhou.

Young "Ambassadors" pose with the BC's staffs.

As a part of the "08/09 Climate Cool" campaign, 33 young people from India, China's Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chongqing arrived in Guangzhou on July 24 to take a three-day tour.

From July 15 in Beijing, they underwent a two-week training tour, visiting environmental sites and organizations in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, sharing their feelings and promoting public awareness of the environment.

These young "Ambassadors" of Climate Change Awareness are "Climate Champions" selected from thousands in each region. Agastya, from India's Bangalore, spoke of how he and his partner encourage local farmers not to cut trees for money, teaching them other ways to meet economic demands.

Agastya (R) and two Indian "Ambassadors" pose in the BC's Guangzhou office.

To tackle climate changes, the BC of China has launched the "Climate Cool", a two-year regional project which aims to raise awareness of climate safety and to encourage individual action to reduce the impact of climate change.

The project began in March 2007. Over the past year, a series of events including a design exhibition, a Green School project and a Sino-British Communication were held to increase public recognition of environmental protection.

Like the 07/08 session, the 08/09 will target education, media and society. With the theme of "Climate Change: we can all be part of the solution," this year the project encourages personal action to reduce carbon emission as a solution to climate change.

Climate Cool website: http://www.britishcouncil.org.cn/climatecool/en/

More about the Climate Cool activities in Guangzhou

(By Jessie Hwang)