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Most adults have memories of seasons and weather from a time before knowing about the science of thunder and lightning and tides and sand dunes. In parts of the world with distinct seasons, children learn to anticipate the joys and challenges of winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Seasons and daily weather conditions dictate what we wear on our feet, hands, and head and where we play. Today’s children learn less about the benign characteristics of climate and weather, and instead discuss melting ice caps, endangered polar bears, and varied air quality.

On September 5-7, 2007, the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) for Non-government Organizations (NGO) sponsored its 60th international conference in New York. Called Climate Change: How it Impacts Us All, the conference hosted nearly 500 NGOs and over 1,700 people from 66 nations representing every continent. NGOs represented included the American Bar Association (ABA), Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), American Montessori Society (AMS), World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP), Global Kids, Inc., Girl Scouts of the USA, and International Save the Children Alliance.

A little more than a month later on October 11, the Norwegian Nobel Committee presented its highest award, the Nobel Peace Prize, to Al Gore and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Former Vice President Gore had already received an Oscar for the film “An Inconvenient Truth” that he narrates and helped produce. From these highly regarded events, adults and children alike can learn that efforts are underway to address the effects of global warming. Banner headlines in newspapers and magazines and on television and radio news programs put the issues of climate change front and center for all children and the adults who care for them to watch, listen, and take action for a healthier world.

For more information, visit www.un.org/dpi/ngosection and www.un.org/chronicle. Also search for “Al Gore,” Nobel Peace Prize,” or “An Inconvenient Truth.”

Contributed by Edna Ranck

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