The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's National Academy, is Scottish Charity No.

SC000470

Press release: embargoed until 13:00

Wednesday 15 September

Heather Reid presents awards to winning schools in climate change competition, Edinburgh, Wednesday 15 September. Former BBC weather forecaster Heather Reid was at the Royal Society of Edinburgh today to present awards to winning schools from across Scotland, for their entries to the RSEs Facing up to Climate Change competition. The competition was part of the RSEs current major inquiry into how Scotland can best respond to climate change and gave young people the chance to make their voices heard on an issue that will shape their future lives. School groups produced posters and short films demonstrating how they think people in Scotland, and beyond, can grasp the opportunities and face up to the challenges of a changing climate. Heather commented Climate change is one of the most important challenges facing the world today and will help to shape our future society. Although climate change is complex, our young people must be able to understand the issues and recognise their importance from an early age. This competition has given pupils across Scotland the opportunity to explore the impacts of climate change and I am delighted by the quality of entries received. Entries came in from schools across Scotland, and from groups ranging from Primary 6 and 7, up to S3. At the ceremony a number of prizes, ranging from 100 to 1,000, were awarded, and winning groups, each with three or four pupils, had the opportunity to present their posters and DVDs. Overall winning entries came from Gryffe High School and St Marys Primary School (Duntocher), both of which received 1,000. Regional winners, awarded 500 each, came from Balerno High, Ballater Primary, St Marys Episcopal Primary and Amisfield Primary. A group from Maryburgh Primary School was highly commended and won a sum of 100. Professor David Sugden, chair of the RSEs Facing up to Climate Change inquiry and Professor of Geography at Edinburgh University, said Exploring the views of people of all ages and from all parts of Scotland has been an integral part of our inquiry. Getting a real feel for the challenges and opportunities that the changing climate is creating, and what barriers are preventing people from adapting to it, will allow us to make clear, practical recommendations. Entries received from the young people who took part in this competition have been hugely informative and I would like to thank everyone who took part. Scotland has an ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020 but there is a big gap between the policies needed to achieve this target and
The Royal Society of Edinburgh

The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's National Academy, is Scottish Charity No. SC000470

the current position. The RSEs inquiry aims to identify the opportunities and challenges for Scotland in moving to a low carbon economy and will make recommendations on how to bridge that gap. The RSE inquiry team has undertaken an extensive evidence-gathering process, holding public meetings in Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Dumfries, Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as taking oral and written evidence from over 130 public and private organisations and individuals. The Inquiry report will be published in early 2011. www.royalsoced.org.uk ENDS Further information, and photographs (from 5pm onwards), will be available from: Susan Bishop Royal Society of Edinburgh 0131 240 2789 07738570315 sbishop@royalsoced.org.uk NOTES FOR EDITORS The Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotlands national academy, was founded in 1783 and the Fellowship today includes some of the best intellectual talent in academia, the professions and business. The RSE facilitates public debate, research programmes, educational projects and policy formulation. Its strength is its diversity and impartiality. The Societys unique multi-disciplinary approach enables it to draw from and link with a broad spectrum of expertise to enhance the understanding of globally-important issues. In fulfilling its Royal Charter for the advancement of learning and useful knowledge, the RSE seeks to contribute to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Scotland. RSE Inquiry Facing up to Climate Change The remit of the RSEs Inquiry, launched in October 2009, is to engage with individuals, industries and public authorities to help develop and respond to proposed Government climate change policies. It aims to identify barriers to change and to recommend measures for current and future policies in these areas, as well as the timescales on which action might need to be developed. The RSE Inquiry will seek to raise awareness of the challenges ahead, both from global warming and from a move to a low carbon economy and to identify how individuals, communities and industries can turn these challenges into a positive opportunity. The inquiry committee, led by internationally renowned climate scientist Professor David Sugden, will report in early 2011.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh