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Print articleApproximately 20 tonnes of real snow is to be dropped in Centenary Square, Bradford, to encourage people to think about climate change.
The Council's climate change awareness programme has a slogan 'act now before it snowballs' and has a theme of conflicting seasons to reflect the changes to the world's weather as a result of global warming.
Children from the Council's nursery, Cavell House, have been invited to come and play in the snow, and it will then be opened up for members of the public to enjoy. The snow has been provided by SNO!zone, the real snow slope at Xscape, Castleford.
During the event, Council staff will be distributing free climate change guides and explaining what the Council is doing to raise awareness of the issue in the Bradford district.
Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the Executive Member for Environment and Culture, said:
?Of course no-one is expecting there to be real snow in summer, but we all need to be aware of the changes in our seasons caused by global warming. There has been much more flooding in the Bradford district in recent years, for example, which has had disastrous effects on our communities.
?Everyone can do their bit to tackle climate change and reduce the impact of global warming, from using the car less and recycling more to switching off lights when you leave the room. It all makes a difference.?
Tracey Thackray, Marketing Officer for Bradford Council, said:
?Bradford Council has been awarded ?200,000 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to raise awareness in the Bradford district of the effects of climate change.
?We are spending the money on a range of activities to encourage members of the public to think about climate change and how their actions can have an effect. These include commissioning a theatre production to teach children about the importance of saving energy and recycling, producing a climate change guide for residents, conducting research into public opinion and awareness-raising events such as this one.
?The event on Tuesday in Centenary Square is an opportunity for our officers to speak directly to members of the public about climate change. The spectacle of the snow will encourage people to find out what is going on and is a fun way of delivering a very serious message. The event has cost in total ?1,500 which has been paid for through the climate change grant from Defra.
?We believe that speaking to people face to face about climate change, recycling and saving energy is one of the best ways of delivering our message which is that climate change is real and is happening now and we can all do something to tackle it.?
