A search for nine young people to become local climate change champions was launched today, 26 January, as part of the Government's climate change communications initiative, “Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge”.

The winners of this national competition, Climate Change Champions 2006, will act as the voice of climate change in their communities, across England. They will spend a year ‘in office', spreading the word about climate change to their region through local activities.

They will also have a number of engagements throughout the year, including a fact-finding tour to Switzerland to witness the effects of climate change for themselves. They will also have the opportunity to meet a senior Government minister to discuss climate change in the UK and their plans to tackle the issue in their own community.

The competition was launched by Climate Change Minister Elliot Morley. He said: “The Government is committed to tackling climate change. We owe it to future generations to do all we can to change public attitudes in favour of a more climate-friendly way of life.

“Young people in Britain care deeply about the environment and they have a vital role to play as champions in their communities. I very much look forward to seeing the ideas put forward by prospective climate change champions and meeting the final nine once they are selected.”

The competition is open to anyone aged between 10 – 18 years. Entrants will be required to submit their own communication about climate change to Defra, together with why they believe they should be selected as a champion. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as front page of a newspaper, a web news page, video, short film, radio feature or other innovative way. It should cover how climate change is affecting the UK, why it is important that everyone should know about the issue and how can we work together to reduce greenhouse gas levels. The deadline for entries is March 31.

“Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge” is a three year drive to communicate the threat of climate change and the need for everyone to help tackle the problem. The initiative was launched by Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett and Elliot Morley in December 2005.