Chinese children paint for the environment in UN-sponsored competition

Children across China are taking part in a United Nations-backed painting competition launched today to depict the challenges the world faces in combating climate change.

The competition is being organized by the UN 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 first Chinese Children’s Painting Competition organized for 2008 attracted an unprecedented 1.5 million entries from around the world’s most populous country. ‘Climate Change: Our Challenge’ is the theme of the second competition.

“The colossal success of the Chinese Children’s Painting Competition shows how much children around China care about the environment,” UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner told the launch ceremony in Beijing. “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.”

The first Chinese Children’s Painting Competition – with the theme “Climate Change: What can we do to make our earth cool down?”– 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 Mr. Steiner. Other laureates included 100 second-place winners and 500 third-place winners.