UNEP
launches the 2nd Chinese Children’s Painting
Competition
Beijing, 12 November 2008 - ‘Climate Change:
Our Challenge’ is the theme of the 2nd Chinese
Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment
which was launched today in Beijing. The
competition is organized by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Luo
Hong Foundation, and is held in conjunction
with UNEP’s International Children’s Painting
Competition on the Environment.
The Chinese Children’s
Painting Competition was first organized
in 2008, attracting an unprecedented 1.5
million entries from around the country.
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary
General and UNEP Executive Director, said:
“The colossal success of the Chinese Children’s
Painting Competition shows how much children
around China care about the environment.
I would like to congratulate the Luo Hong
Foundation for hosting this event for the
second time, giving us the opportunity to
reach millions of children and members of
the public around China.”
In addition to Achim
Steiner, the launch was attended by Luo
Hong, the Chair of the Luo Hong Foundation,
Lin Qing from the All China Youth Federation,
Liz Rihoy, the Chinese Children’s Painting
Competition Chairperson, and the top three
winners of the first painting competition.
An environmental training
package for educators was developed by the
organizers, in consultation with local experts,
to help teachers promote climate change
awareness and boost positive action among
school children.
In 2008, the 1st Chinese
Children’s Painting Competition saw 620
paintings selected for prizes. The top three
winners were announced on World Environment
Day in June 2008, and participated in UNEP’s
Tunza International Children’s Conference
in Stavanger (Norway) later that month.
Twenty first-place winners flew to UNEP
Headquarters in Nairobi where they received
their awards from UNEP Executive Director
Achim Steiner. Other winners included 100
second-place winners and 500 third-place
winners.
The theme of the 1st
Chinese Children’s Painting Competition
in 2008 was ‘Climate Change: What can we
do to make our earth cool down?’
Spokesperson / Head of Media
Nick Nuttall
Office of the Executive Director
