7.4 Activities
Environment Minister for a day
TEACHER RESOURCE!
Consider ways to reduce environmental impact across the ACT
Part 1:
You have been appointed the ACT’s Environment Minister for a day. Here’s your chance to make a difference! In the table below, write down two actions you would take for each of the following categories to reduce environmental impacts across the ACT.
- waste
- energy
- carbon footprintThe amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released into the air as a result of our daily activities.
- water
An example for each category is given below.
| Waste | Energy | Carbon footprint | Water | |
| Example | Introduce a Territory-wide composting program. | Provide financial support to help people install an electric vehicle charger at home. | Create a rewards scheme to encourage people to use public transport. | Make a law that all new houses must have water-efficient shower heads. |
| Action 1 | ||||
| Action 2 | | |
Part 2:
As Environment Minister, you are in charge of creating a campaign to encourage more people to use public transport. Your budget allows you to choose three of the campaign elements listed below.
- A targeted social media campaign over 6 months
- Weekly newspaper ads over 6 months
- Twice daily TV and radio ads over 4 weeks
- One billboard ad in a prime location for 4 weeks
- One promotional flyer delivered to every house in either Gungahlin, Tuggeranong or Belconnen
- Several small or a few large give-aways (e.g. every time you use your MyWay card your name goes in a draw to win a prize)
- 10 educational online resources (e.g. short videos, factsheets)
Think about the approach you would take for your campaign, then answer the following questions.
Questions:
- Can you come up with a memorable name for your campaign?
- Which group(s) of people would you target (e.g. high school students, retirees, young families)?
- Which three items would you spend your budget on?
- Why do you think that these three items would be the most effective for your target group?
- How would you make sure your campaign is interesting and memorable?
- How would you measure the success of your campaign?
We’d love to know what young people would do as the ACT’s Environment Minister! If you or your teacher want to share your ideas with us, send your completed worksheet to the Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment at envcomm@act.gov.au.