ACT Greens MLA Jo Clay is encouraging families to lace up their sneakers and step up for the planet this National Walk Safely to School Day tomorrow, Friday 20 May 2022.
Ms Clay said that the day aims to raise awareness of the health and environmental benefits of walking to and from school and is a great opportunity for families to change up their routine and try something new.
“I know families are increasingly busy and getting out the door in the morning is often a hectic time of the day,” said Ms Clay.
“But making the time to walk or ride to school has so many benefits – not only does it incorporate a bit of exercise into your daily routine, it gets cars off the road, reduces emissions and reduces congestion around schools.
“And perhaps most importantly, it is an opportunity to get kids thinking about what choices we can make to help tackle climate change.
“We know that younger generations are becoming increasingly concerned about how climate change will impact their future. It’s really important that we equip them with knowledge and set them up to make lifestyle choices with our planet in mind. Action is the best antidote to anxiety and walking to school is one easy and simple thing many kids can do.
“Around 60% of our tracked emissions come from transport and making active travel an easy and enjoyable choice for as many Canberrans as possible will help bring this number down.
“So I encourage families to take this opportunity to try walking or riding to school tomorrow. Enjoy that crisp Canberra Autumn air and see if this might fit into your regular routine,” said Ms Clay.
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