Students from local primary schools got the opportunity to learn about greenhouse gases and take the lead on an environmental project at an event in Wānaka last month.

One teacher and six students from each school learned about the impact transport, energy, planting and water can have on the environment at the Wao Climate Action Initiative event, which took place at the Lake Wānaka Centre. 

They also started the process of working out the greenhouse gas emissions of their schools.

The local event formed part of a recently closed three-month Wao programme which included more than 40 businesses and schools from across Queenstown Lakes.

“The purpose of the programme was to equip the schools and businesses with the knowledge and tools to calculate their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and take action to reduce them,” Wao Aotearoa program manager Olivia Bonifant told the Wānaka App. 

Te Kura O Take Kārara associate principal Daryll Gellatly said events like this one help to empower the younger generation to take action against climate change.

Te Kura O Take Kārara associate principal Daryll Gellatly said the event inspired students to take action.

“Climate change is a massive issue,” he said. “So we view it as a way for our kids to take action and find out what we're doing well, and what we could improve on at our school. And it links extremely well with our curriculum.”

Wao trustee and technical lead Dr Carly Green said engaging with the students was reinvigorating: “I really loved all the challenging questions and the journey of opportunity that the conversations led us on,” she said. 

Wakatipu school students also got to participate in the programme at another event in late June.

Carly said many of the schools at the Wānaka event had been gathering data on their greenhouse gas footprint and others were inspired to do so at the event.

She will be helping each school complete their greenhouse gas emissions calculations by the end of year. 

The Wao Climate Action Initiative greenhouse gas emissions programme was funded by Destination Queenstown, Lake Wānaka Tourism and Queenstown Lakes District Council.

Wao hopes to hold more events to help schools and businesses understand their emissions in the future.

PHOTOS: Supplied