Toronto — The Pembina Institute launches the Ontario Supplement to its highly-acclaimed Climate Change Awareness and Action Education Kit:
Wednesday, November 28, 2001, 4:30 — 6:30 pm
The Ontario Science Centre, Gemini Room
770 Don Mills Road, Toronto
"Climate change is the single largest environmental challenge of the 21st century and it is important for students to be well informed about both the potential impacts of climate change and the range of actions that can be taken to address it," states Robert Hornung, Policy Director of the Pembina Institute and a speaker at the launch.
The Ontario Supplement to the Climate Change Awareness and Action Education Kit and Program, sponsored by Ontario Power Generation (OPG), includes a curriculum correlation, new fact sheets, lesson plans, and student activities, all designed for the Province of Ontario. "We are proud to be involved in this important education initiative as it reinforces our commitment to sustainable energy development," said Helen Howes, Vice President, Sustainable Development for OPG.
The Climate Change Awareness and Action Education Kit is a science-based learning resource for Grades 9 through 12. The Kit was designed to foster critical thinking about the climate change issue, and to provide teachers with a selection of science activities that meet core and STSE (science, technology, society and environment) specifications in their courses. The Kit contains a 300-page teacher plan in binder format, overhead transparencies, the Nature of Things video "Turning Down the Heat," and copies of primary source documents.
The Ontario Supplement complements the Kit's 14 original learning activities with four new ones, including:
The projected impact of climate change on the ecology of the Great Lakes;
Forestry and climate: the impact of climate change on Ontario's forests, and the use of tree ring data to describe changes in past climate;
The nuclear energy debate: is nuclear energy a viable solution to the climate change problem?
The projected impact of climate change on Ontario's economy.
Teacher Alice Casselman, an active and vocal proponent of climate change and biodiversity education in Ontario, will also be speaking at the launch.
The Pembina Institute is an independent, non-profit think tank and activist organization. We seek to ensure environmental protection through research and education; practical technological solutions and advice to business, individuals and communities; and, effective development and advocacy of environmentally-sound public policy. We are leaders on climate change, energy policy, green economics, renewable energy and education. The Pembina Institute acknowledges the support of Ontario Power Generation in the production of the Ontario Supplement and the provision of the Climate Change Awareness and Action Education Program in Ontario.
Ontario Power Generation is an Ontario based company whose principal business is the generation and sale of electricity to customers in Ontario and interconnected markets. OPG's goal is to be a premier North American energy company, focused on low-cost power generation and wholesale energy sales while operating in a safe, open and environmentally responsible manner.
"Climate change is the single largest environmental challenge of the 21st century and it is important for students to be well informed about both the potential impacts of climate change and the range of actions that can be taken to address it," states Robert Hornung, Policy Director of the Pembina Institute and a speaker at the launch.
For more information contact:
Joanne Egan
Director of Communications and Development, Pembina Institute
Office: 613-235-6288, ext. 30
Janet Sumner
Director, Public Outreach, Pembina Institute
Office: 416-467-9929
Email: janets@pembina.org
John Earl
Ontario Power Generation
Office: 416-592-4008
