Ballarat will celebrate World Environment Day on Wednesday with activities to engage community members of all ages.
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Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions group, widely known as BREAZE, will present prizes to winning entrants of its Children's World Environment Day writing competition on Wednesday afternoon.
Nearly 200 Grade five and six students submitted an essay in response to the theme "what I can do to help the environment?".
BREAZE Vice President Mary Debrett said the competition generated discussion between students, teachers and parents about the community's need to take action to preserve Ballarat's environment and safe climate.
"I think children are actually closer to the natural environment than adults and bring fresh eyes to the topic," she said.
"In writing about it and talking about it with their parents at home they do help people to see things afresh and perhaps see some of the problems adults in their busy day to day lives miss."
Ms Debrett said many children wrote about the need to reduce plastic, cut down on paper, saving electricity, littering and the extinction of animals in their essay.
In writing about it and talking about it with their parents at home they do help people to see things afresh and perhaps see some of the problems adults in their busy day to day lives miss.
- Mary Debrett, BREAZE Vice President
Later on World Environment Day, BREAZE will host a film night at the Ballarat Mechanics Institute, featuring a screening of The Human Element that shows community-level devastation of climate change.
The film screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Ballarat Climate Action Network's Pat Hocke, Ballarat CFA's Anthony Pearce, and Lucinda Horrocks and Jary Nemo from Wind and Sky.
World Environment Day is the United Nation's most important day for encourage worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
The World Environment Day 2019 theme is 'beat air pollution' chosen by this year's host China.
The topic invites consideration on how individuals can change their everyday lives to reduce the amount of air pollution produced.
Watch the World Environment Day 2019 video below.
Nine out of ten people worldwide are exposed to levels of air pollutants that exceed safe levels set by the World Health Organization.
Coal-burning power plants, transport, agriculture, burning of waste and organic matter in landfill are the major causes of air pollution worldwide.
People around the world are encouraged to join the World Environment Day 'mask challenge' by deciding what action you will take to beat air pollution, make a pledge on social media and encourage others to take action.
Some examples of action to reduce air pollution include:
- Use public transport, car sharing, cycle or walk
- Switch to a hybrid or electric vehicle
- Turn off the car engine when stationary
- Reduce your consumption of meat and dairy to help cut methane emissions
- Compost organic food items and recycle non-organic trash
- Switch to high-efficiency home heating systems and equipment
- Save energy: turn off lights and electronics when not in use
- Choose non-toxic paints and furnishings
Tickets for the free documentary screening are available through Trybooking: trybooking.com/BCIOJ.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
