Young people aged 11-18 have just two weeks left to get their entry in to have the chance to win a year in office as a the East Midlands’ climate change champion.

Winners of the competition will:

• spend a busy year ‘in office’ communicating how people can reduce their carbon footprints and tackling climate change by taking simple and effective action
• take part in a European fact finding expedition to see the effects of climate change and how the issues are tackled by other communities
• receive £1,000 to organise a climate change themed event at their school, college or within their community
• receive a digital camera to record their experience as a champion
• meet with senior Government Ministers to share their ideas on the problems we face and ways these issues and their solutions can be communicated to audiences of all ages

Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock said:

“Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing us and it is young people who will be most affected by the decisions we make today. This is why it is essential that we empower them so they can spread the message that tackling climate change is urgent, but that by working together we can make a difference.

“It is fantastic that so many young people feel passionately about the environment and climate change and want to bring about change in others. The winners of this competition will become young ambassadors, playing a high profile role in changing public opinion and behaviour.

“Last year’s champions did a wonderful job. Now we ask for new champions to come forward, enter our competition and take up the climate change challenge.”’

1. To enter, any young person who is a permanent resident of England and aged between 11-18 years needs to demonstrate how they can encourage their friends, family, school or community to make positive steps to reduce their carbon footprint.

   Entries can take any format from a poster, news report, documentary or case-study to website page, the front page of a newspaper, video, radio feature or any other method of engagement. Deadline for entries is December 3, 2007.

   Entries will be judged by a panel of experts and a selected short list will be invited to London for a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style interview. The final nine champions will be chosen based on their passion for climate change, skills, teamwork and their ability to encourage their peers and others to act.

2. Applicants to the Climate Change Champions 07/08 competition can enter and gain more information via the www.climatechallenge.gov.uk website.

3. The nine winning Champions will be formally announced and will begin their roles in February 2008.

4. More information on the Government’s ‘Act on CO2’ campaign can be found at: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/index.htm