The City of Cape Town is embarking on a new approach to tackling climate change by involving primary schools.
It held a week-long programme that raised awareness about climate change and at the final session, held at the Edith Stephens Wetland Park on Friday October 5, pupils were taught about climate change, its impact on weather
and the environment and what pupils can do to help mitigate the risks.
The City said that over the past past week, 200 primary school pupils from across the metropole had visited various nature reserves through the programme, initiated by the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre and supported by the Environmental Resource Management Department.
In her presentation to the children on Friday, Mandy Thomas, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management unit, appealed to pupils to help save the environment. “You guys can be part of the solution. You have a chance to save the planet for the coming generations. Remember that nature is a source of life. We need to take care of nature because our well-being depends on it,” she said.
Ms Thomas also urged them to assist their families to recycle and reuse items, adding that people should consider cycling or walking instead of driving. “Plant a tree and help use less water at home. Families can also go solar to save electricity. But let us conserve water and use it sparingly,” she said.
Children were taken around the nature reserve to see some of the natural plants, water reservoir and animals.
DAproportionalrepresentation(PR)councillor Mzwakhe Nqavashe attended the final session with pupils and stressed that trees were important and that children should save them. He also condemned those who burn tyres on the
streets and asked children to report them. “Consider earth as your ball. Love it and keep right at all times. Please do not smoke. If you do so, you will be burning your ball,”
he said.