Teens take Kiwi concerns abroad

Rick Zwaan is one of five young Kiwis who will attend a UN climate change forum in Denmark. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Aucklander Rick Zwaan has been given a chance to do something few other 16-year- olds will ever do - travel to a foreign city and give his views on one of the most prominent environmental issues of our time.

The Northcote College student has been selected with four other teenage Kiwis to participate in the UN Children's Fund Children's Climate Change Forum in Copenhagen from November 28 to December 5.

Rick says going to Copenhagen will be "pretty awesome".

"It will be really cool to go over there and have a united action with kids around the world."

Unicef International Advocacy Manager Sarah Morris said she hoped the young people speaking at the forum would be able to influence world leaders at the following Framework Convention on Climate Change.

"In our experience, young people tend to provide a direct and honest statement when they talk to world leaders. They speak from the heart.

"Climate change has already had a devastating impact on millions of people all over the world."

Rick and his peers were chosen to speak at the forum because they have a real passion for the environment and the ability to understand and speak about it, Ms Morris said.

Rick said he had been interested in climate change since primary school.

"My parents are both quite involved in climate change stuff so I've grown up with it."

Rick will attend the forum with Erana Walker, 17, from Whangarei; Phoebe Hunt, 17, from Rotorua; and Travis Mills, 14, and Abby Ward, 17, both from Nelson.

Before the forum, the young ambassadors will research and make recommendations on tackling climate change in New Zealand and internationally.