Powering Net Zero Commitments

United Nations Launches Childrens’ Climate Initiative: Climate Action Superheroes

Share this article on your social networks.

The United Nations has launched eight animated climate action heroes on its social media platforms to encourage children to protect the planet.

The campaign is aimed at children under12 and the purpose is to inspire them to develop daily habits that are environmentally friendly.

The Climate Action Superheroes campaign introduces children, their parents, and teachers to eight funky characters out on a mission to limit global warming and protect the environment.

“We want children to be aware of the difference they can make through everyday actions”, said Nanette Braun, Director of Campaigns in the UN Department of Global Communications

“Lifelong behaviours are shaped at an early age and we hope that providing the knowledge and tools to help build a more sustainable future will have lasting impact.”

“By engaging children, we target the consumers and decision-makers of the future, who will drive the change the world needs.” ,” said Melissa Rancourt, Academic Director for the Global Executive Master of Science in Strategic Design and Management at The New School where the campaign concept was developed.

What we learn as young children stays with us throughout life and often lays the foundation of our behavior as adults. It is hoped that what the children learn from the eight animated characters will inspire them to save water, recycle plastic, save energy, and choose to eat more veggies.

The eight superheroes are Energy Expert, Recycle Ranger, Green Guide, Truth Talker, Veggie Vindicator, Fashion Fixer and Water Wizard, and Fume Fighter.

The Veggie Vindicator teaches children that plant-based food has a lower environmental impact than animal-based food. Children are not asked to become vegetarians but to consider a balanced diet that incorporates all food groups. As an example, they are told that one 150 gram beef burger requires about 2,250 litres of water while a 725-gram cheese-and-tomato pizza requires around 1,216 litres of water.

The Recycle Ranger introduces children to the idea that recycling can reduce waste, for instance, that the recycling of paper in school and at home saves trees and water. They are given some facts to help them understand why it is important to put plastic, paper, metal and glass in the recycling bin.

Green Guide exposes children and their parents to the idea that they should buy fruit and vegetables that don’t look perfect. Why? Because if nobody buys them, they will be thrown on the garbage heap and become waste.

A shocking amount of food is lost, wasted or spoiled each year, representing a huge waste of resources like land, water, labour, and energy.

Fashion Fixer encourages children and their parents to buy fewer new clothes, shop for second-hand clothes, or to upcycle – that is making new clothes out of old clothes. This can also help to save water. Most people don’t realise how much water is used by the textile industry – it takes about 7,500 litres of water to make one pair of jeans!

Each climate action superhero gives children facts and suggests simple actions they can take to take care of the environment and become climate change heroes themselves.

Parents, children, and teachers can log onto the UN website and follow the superheroes on their missions in an animated world. There are activity sheets to download as well as certificates of completion, animated social media cards and stickers.

Related Posts

BreakingBoundaries
The most important scientific discovery of our time: NetFlix
Netflix states that the film, just released, centres around David Attenborough and Swedish Professor Johan Rockström's research and records “the
Read More
climaterulings
4 Massive Climate Rulings Prove that Big Oil, Gas & Coal Are Running Out Of Hiding Places
3 global fossil fuel giants have been on the end of embarrassing rebukes over their inaction or inadequate action on
Read More
net_zero_carbon
New IEA report gives meaning to Net Zero – five key insights
The IEA has released its long-awaited roadmap highlighting how the globe’s energy sector could slash its planet-heating emissions to net
Read More
Methane emissions
Lowering Methane Emissions Is The Fastest Way To Slow Global Heating- UN Report
The new UN report discovered that methane emissions can be halved by 2030 with existing technology and at a reasonable
Read More
netzero
Increasing Climate Change Promises are Moving the Needle
Recent and increasing promises concerning climate change made by major countries could bring the earth a fraction closer to the
Read More
yosemite
Shocking results for nature’s climate change resilience – Retracing a century old wild life survey
When Berkely researchers following in the steps of Joseph Grinnell, a biologist who over a century ago developed a pioneering
Read More
ironmanvsclimatechange
Tech billionaires’ Ironman approach to climate change vs. planting trees
3 of the 5 richest individuals in the world, are all aiming to create new technologies which can lower the
Read More
climateaction 100plus
World First Net Zero Company Benchmark of the World’s Largest Corporate Emitters
Climate Action 100+, a $54 trillion investor coalition, released a report that evaluated several companies' climate change performance.
Read More
why do we need to conserve resources
74% of Economists Says Net Zero Actions are Economically Desirable
The majority of the international climate economists polled in February stated they had become increasingly concerned about climate change over
Read More