Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said:
"Climate change is one of the most serious environmental challenges the world is facing. An increase of the Earth’s temperature by just a few degrees over a relatively short period of time would have dramatic effects, causing see levels to rise and threatening to wipe out a large part of the Earth’s species. Everybody can contribute in preventing this to happen and the Green Week school competition is an occasion to discuss this important issue at school."

The three best entrants in each category of the competition will win a trip to Brussels, accompanied by a parent or guardian. They will receive a prize and also get an opportunity to meet the European Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Stavros Dimas.

The competition is open to schools in the enlarged EU and candidate countries. This year there are two competition categories:

• A drawing and painting competition for children aged 6-10;
• A short digital video competition for young people aged 11-16.
  

Drawing and Painting

In the competition for the younger age group, children are invited to send in drawings or paintings illustrating their ideas on climate change. Children could draw or paint possible changes to their local ecosystems caused by global warming or illustrate ideas on how air pollution and climate change may be prevented.

The best 20 entrants will have their paintings displayed at the Green Week Exhibition.

Digital video

Older children are asked to work in teams of several pupils. They should make a short digital video on climate change. The video should be no more than three minutes long, and shouldn’t include any text or speech. The children can show what causes climate change and give ideas on how they can make a difference by changing their behaviours. Creative approaches will be awarded. The top 20 entrants will be shown at the Green Week exhibition.

Entries and Judging

Entries may only be submitted with the support of a school. Entries must be scanned, or created digitally, and sent to the Environment Directorate-General (deadline 15 March 2005) via the entry forms on the Green Week School Competition website accessible in 20 languages at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/youth/index_en.html

Teachers are encouraged to make the competition part of a class activity and the web site will offer some ideas and support. A panel of teachers and environmental experts from all over Europe will assist the European Commission in carrying out the judging.

General information

The competition, which is the fifth edition of its kind, is being run by European Schoolnet (www.eun.org) on behalf of the Commission's Environment Directorate-General. Questions about the competitions can be addressed to Chris Coakely at the following email address: chris.coakley@eun.org.