May 10, 2002

BRANDON--A hands on program that helps high school students learn about the impacts of climate change has received provincial funding of $25,000, Conservation Minister Oscar Lathlin announced today.

"This workshop gives our youth a way to explore and learn about connections between the natural environment, the economy and human communities," said Lathlin. "We are pleased to support this innovative program that gives our young people an increased level of awareness about global climate change today so they can become better planners tomorrow."

Participating in a demonstration of the game at Neelin High School on behalf of Lathlin, Education, Training and Youth Minister Drew Caldwell acknowledged its benefit. "Manitoba high school students, especially in rural and northern communities, will have an experiential, hands on opportunity to make sustainable development decisions."

The Global Change Game takes about three hours with up to 70 students and six to eight facilitators working on a floor map of the world the size of a basketball court and making simulated economic development decisions. Every few minutes of game time represent years of development so that participants come away with a sense of how today’s development decisions can impact on the future environment.

The Global Change Game Inc. 2002 spring tour is expected to involve up to 1,500 students and typically include the topics of waste management, energy conservation, sustainable agricultural practices and water stewardship. New this year will be a smaller in-class workshop called Climate Change in the Classroom.

The funding is being provided by Manitoba Conservation through the Sustainable Development Innovations Fund (SDIF). The fund is designed to support the development, implementation and promotion of environmental innovation and sustainable development projects.

SDIF priority areas include regional waste management, environmental technology innovations and demonstration, northern environmental issues, sustainable community development, sustainable agriculture practices, ecosystem conservation, understanding our environment, eco-tourism and water issues.

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