Feb. 13, 2009
New Brunswick youth can help the government find ways to act on climate change, says Environment Minister Roland Haché.
Haché was at NBCC Miramichi Tuesday to announce the Environment Department will hold 20 sessions across the province under the name Rock the Boat, Our Climate, Our Change.
With a line of Canadian and New Brunswick flags behind him, Haché told a group of about 60 people the Rock the Boat sessions are an important part of the partnership between the government and youth around the province.
"These sessions are a great opportunity for youth to work with government in getting involved in their communities in the fight against climate change and to contribute to a self-sufficient New Brunswick by 2026."
The sessions' goal is to engage youth and get input from them in the province's fight against climate change.
Various communities around the province will host sessions, including Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John, Bathurst and Chipman.
New Brunswick Advisory Council on Youth member Jordan Graham said his group works on many different issues and has taken part in past Rock the Boat tours.
"Right now we're taking on climate change."
The government needs an inclusive public policy to learn what youth are talking about, he said.
"The youth today are largely going to be accepting consequences of decisions made tomorrow."
But Graham said the province's inclusion of youth in climate change discussions was very encouraging.
"It's a two-way street. If we want to engage with them we have to reach out to them."
After he made the announcement, Haché said he was surprised by how aware kids are about the environment.
"To me I think there's a real action that can be taken today."
Haché said teachers talk about environmental issues in school, kids see them on television or they experience things like floods which have an affect on them and raise awareness.
"They are really concerned by that."
During a visit to one school, Haché met two boys who started picking up garbage around their community. He said that got the ball rolling at their school.
"I have great hope for the future as far as the environment is concerned."
Although he didn't stay for the session with the students, Haché said the facilitators would brief him on the information taken from it.
"We want to hear about their ideas. Youth have a very fertile imaginations."
NBCC Miramichi principal Marie-Paule Theriault said the Environment Department held the session at the community college because of the school's environmental technology program.
"They felt it was an ideal location to have it."
The environmental technology students will bring new initiatives forward, she said.
"The students they bring in a fresh approach to challenges."
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