Local schools to help tackle climate change
Local schools will play an important role in the fight to cut Australia’s carbon emissions and tackle climate change, the Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet told students at Forest Hill College on Tuesday, 13 July 2010.
Mr Combet, who visited Forest Hill College in Burwood East with the Federal Member for Deakin Mike Symon, said that the school was one of more than 1,000 schools around the country that would help the cut around 7,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
“Forest Hill College students and teachers are at the frontline in the fight to cut Australia’s carbon emissions and tackle climate,” Mr Comet said.
“Under the Gillard Labor Government’s National Solar Schools Program Forest Hill College has joined local schools around Australia in installing hundreds of solar panels on classroom roofs.
“The big effort by schools like Forest Hill College will help to cut the amount of carbon emissions equivalent to taking 2,800 cars off the road per year.”
Mr Symon welcomed the steps Forest Hill College had taken to reduce their carbon emissions, saying that everyone in the community had a role to play in tackling climate change.
“Climate Change is such a big challenge that it requires everyone in our community, including our schools, to do what they can to save electricity and reduce carbon emissions,” Mr Symon said.
“Forest Hill College students and their teachers ought to be congratulated for doing their bit and showing the community how renewable energy like solar power can do to help combat climate change.”
The Gillard Labor Government has committed to ensuring that at least 20 per cent of all Australia’s electricity supply will come from renewable energy sources, including the power generated at Forest Hill College, by 2020.
