Children paint for climate change

This winning painting was created by Charlotte Sullivan from Surrey

Children from all over the world are being asked to use their artistic skills to help combat climate change. The annual ‘International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment’ is organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), Bayer and Nikon Corporation. Now in its 18th year, this truly international competition has had more than 190,000 entries from children in over 100 countries.

Get your class involved

There is still time for children to get involved in the 2009 competition. The theme of this year’s competition is ‘Climate Change. Our Challenge’. Children, aged between five and 13, from all around the world, are being invited to submit a painting that focuses on things that we can do to combat climate change, such as using renewable energy, energy saving light bulbs, car sharing and using public transport, planting trees, and so on.

The closing date for entries is 15 January 2009. Prizes, which include cash prizes and a fully paid trip for the winner and a chaperone to the 2009 Tunza International Children’s Conference, will be awarded on a global and regional level.

Art on show

An exhibition and auction – ‘Paint for the Planet Children’s Art Exhibit and Auction’ – of the 2008 winners’ paintings is being held this week in New York. All proceeds will go to help raise emergency funds for children affected by climate-related disasters.

Visit the UNEP website for more information on the auction and 2009 competition