to every primary and secondary school student in Australia and students were invited to submit a question they would personally like to ask Al Gore.
Winner Daina was invited to pose the question to Mr Gore at the exclusive launch of the FEX Sustainability and Cleantech Investment Market – the FEX-SIM last month. Guests at the function included former NSW Premier Bob Carr, former Treasurer of Victoria Alan Stockdale and a further who’s who of the business, finance and political community.
Daina, who was first on the list during the Q&A session, asked Mr Gore: “How long will it take for global warming to stop?"
Mr Gore explained the complexities of global climate change issues and stressed the speed at which these changes are taking place. He suggested that an immediate reduction in carbon dioxide outputs by industry and individuals could neutralise the problem but it could take up to 50 years before half the CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) in the atmosphere returns to earth.
Mr Gore told Daina it cannot be achieved alone but every person can do something to help reduce global warming.
Daina said that Mr Gore’s answer taught her a lot about climate change. “I learnt how bad it really is and how it can affect the whole earth. If pollution keeps going it could kill everyone. That’s really scary,” she said.
Acting on Mr Gore’s advice, Daina and her family have started to make more of an effort to reduce their carbon emissions. “Mum and Dad talk to us about not wasting energy and we try not to use the heaters at home and at school unless we really need to,” she says.
“We put on our jumpers more. We turn the lights off when we don’t need them and we do that at school, too. We have new showerheads at home, too.”
Nicholas Reid, Daina’s father, who attended the event, later spoke about the importance of preserving the environment for future generations. “Al Gore said that by the time my daughter is 35 years old, with the way climate change is going its likely there will be no Arctic ice left,” he said.
/2.. AUSSIE SCHOOLGIRL POSES CLIMATE CHANGE DILEMMA TO AL GORE
“I couldn’t stop thinking about the possibility of a piece of ice the size of England breaking off and melting in just six days.”
Daina was presented with a prize pack by former NSW Premier Bob Carr on behalf of the 'MyGreenSchool Environmental Challenge’, for winning the competition.
Conducted by GreenPlumbers International and Endless Solar in association with Hills Industries, Planet Ark and the Master Plumbers’ and Mechanical Services Association of Australia, the My Green School program has been created to help schools maximise the Australian Government’s new “Green Voucher Program”.
Schools that register with My Green School will receive an on-site assessment by a GreenPlumbers accredited plumber – a plumber who has been trained to give the right advice on water and energy saving plumbing systems such as rainwater tank installations and solar hot water devices.
Following assessment, schools are provided with a tailor-made report with proposed solutions for rainwater harvesting that can include the collection and filtration of storm water from roofs, car parks and roads, with storage either above or below ground. This water can then be directed to amenity blocks and the school’s gardening systems - helping to maintain the schools garden areas and playing fields.
In addition, the report will also provide schools with a solution for solar hot water, helping to reduce energy costs and cutting down the school’s carbon footprint.
The My Green School assessment and report is provided free to the school on the condition that a GreenPlumbers accredited plumber is contracted to manage the works that the schools chooses to undertake as a result of the assessment.
More Info:
Schools can register for the My Green School program on www.mygreenschool.com.au or contact GreenPlumbers www.greenplumbers.com.au
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