TakingITGlobal Showcases Tread Lightly at UN Climate Conference

Exhibit to showcase climate change education and engagement program

Toronto, Canada, December 10, 2009 --(PR.com)-- TakingITGlobal (TIG), an organization that operates the world’s most popular online community for young leaders, announced today that it will exhibit work developed by students participating in the Tread Lightly program at the fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held this month in Copenhagen. Tread Lightly, which is supported by Staples Foundation for Learning, is an education and engagement program that explores climate change through the lens of ecological footprints.

The Tread Lightly program includes a number of initiatives, including: “Imprints” – a sustainability-themed art contest; a 40-day ecological footprint challenge which sees participants adopt, track and maintain a variety of green pledges; and an interdisciplinary secondary school curriculum. Together, these components work to support youth in learning about their relationship with the planet, embracing a more sustainable lifestyle, and becoming climate champions.

Schools around the world, from Brazil to the Netherlands, have employed The Tread Lightly program, with students learning about climate change, creating earth-inspired art, and stepping up to the 40-Day Challenge. Included in the Tread Lightly program is access to TIG’s virtual classroom communities, allowing students to collaborate globally with other schools and classes.

Live from COP15, TIG is co-presenting an international video conference for Tread Lightly students, in collaboration with The Centre for Global Education (TCGE). “There is no greater forum to provide a balanced argument, based on sound scientific principles, than that of the classroom, informed by global, connected dialogue,” notes Terry Godwaldt, Director of Programming for TCGE.

The video conference will feature a former member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (the scientific body which – together with Al Gore – was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007) and members of TIG’s COP15 youth delegation.

With consultative status to the UN, TIG has brought together over 100 youth from 30 countries to attend this year’s climate change conference. TIG delegates will join more than 1,000 other young leaders gathering in Copenhagen to advocate for a stronger response to the global climate crisis by blogging, leading demonstrations and lobbying world leaders directly.

“Internet technologies have allowed youth to connect, collaborate, and coordinate strategies in preparation for the conference, and will be used to effectively pressure decision makers at COP15 and beyond,” explains Liam O’Doherty, Head of Delegation for TakingITGlobal.

Visit http://www.treadlightly.me to find out more about the program, http://climate.tigweb.org to learn more about global climate change, and the COP15 blog (http://tigblog.tigblog.org/group/cop15) to follow the action in Copenhagen.

Outcomes from Tread Lightly will be exhibited from December 12 to 18, as well as during Young and Future Generations Day side event on December 10.

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TakingITGlobal
Liam O'Doherty
416.977.9363 ext 316
http://www.tigweb.org/
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