Premier Celebrates Earth Day

Elementary students and staff at Baddeck Academy learned the importance of preserving and protecting Nova Scotia's environment today, April 22, while celebrating Earth Day.

The premier, along with Mark Parent, Minister of Environment; Richard Hurlburt, Minister responsible for Conserve Nova Scotia; and Karen Casey, Minister of Education; told the more than 60 students, that Nova Scotia has officially joined The Climate Registry.

The Climate Registry is a voluntary reporting system for greenhouse-gas emissions in North America.

"Nova Scotia has an aggressive target to cut greenhouse-gas emissions to 10 per cent below 1990 levels," said Premier MacDonald. "Our membership in The Climate Registry will be beneficial as we continue to combat climate change with the release of the Climate Change Action Plan later this year."

The Climate Registry is a non-profit partnership developing an accurate, complete, consistent and transparent greenhouse-gas emissions measurement protocol that is supportive of greenhouse-gas emission reporting policies for its members.

The premier and ministers led the students in an interactive activity that promotes the importance of the three Rs (reducing, reusing, recycling), energy conservation and overall best practices for environmental management.

"We are relying on our students, the next generation of Nova Scotians, to be good environmental stewards," said Mr. Parent. "We all have a role to play in helping to keep Nova Scotia clean and green."

"Energy conservation is something we encourage on Earth Day -- and every day," said Mr. Hurlburt. "We know our young people are key to changing attitudes about the environment. Through them we are helping people make energy efficiency and conservation part of their every day lives."

Earth Day began in the United States in 1970 as a day to raise awareness about environmental issues. Now, more than 500 million people in 180 countries participate in Earth Day activities.

"In schools across Nova Scotia, students are learning that the social, environmental and economic choices we make today have real consequences for the planet," said Ms. Casey. "As educators, it is our goal to help students develop a heightened awareness of the environment and a deepened sense of their rights and responsibilities as global citizens."

For more information on Earth Day or to find our about events taking place throughout Nova Scotia, visit www.earthday.ca .