Simple explanations of climate change terms have been prepared for young New Zealanders who are being asked for their ideas on how the country should respond to global warming.
The Government wants the children to take part in a national consultation exercise as it considers ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, the international agreement that will set up measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are blamed for global warming.
A consultation document called Climate Change from the Ministry for the Environment's New Zealand Climate Change Programme asks children if they would be prepared to do their bit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and suggests ways they may help. Schools have been sent consultation kits.
The convenor of the ministerial group on climate change, Pete Hodgson, said families could learn more as a result of the consultation. But he said it was important that it was aimed at children.
For a copy of the document, write to the Climate Change Programme at the Ministry for the Environment, PO Box 10-362, Wellington; or telephone 04 917 7484.
