The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate has announced the winners of its school challenge to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Shane Rattenbury said the Directorate’s inaugural Actsmart Carbon Challenge Secondary Schools Competition revealed that Canberra’s students were showing great initiative when it came to climate action.
Mr Rattenbury said more than 140 student households from 12 secondary schools took part in the carbon challenge, collectively saving 170 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
“The carbon challenge is an easy-to-use tool designed to help all ACT residents become more sustainable in their daily lives,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“An interactive web portal, it helps students transfer these skills to the home, teaching everyone in the family how to make simple changes that can help the environment and save on household energy bills.”
He said the awards recipients included:
* Telopea Park School, which saved the most carbon emissions from student households completing challenges — 78 tonnes;
* St Mary Mackillop College, which made a most engaging and informative video about its carbon challenge experience; and
* Canberra Grammar School, which had the most student households in the school team, with 40 student households signing up.
Winning schools were awarded up to $1,500 in prize money to go towards their sustainability projects.
“When it comes to real climate action, together, we can all make a difference,” Mr Rattenbury said.
