In a world of rapid technology, sometimes all it takes is an old-fashioned letter. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed students from P.S. 333 in Manhattan and Cottage Grove Elementary in upstate New York to UN Headquarters Tuesday for a discussion on climate change. At the urging of their teachers, the classes had written to Mr. Ban about their hopes for the planet this spring ahead of the Signing Ceremony for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in April. In return, they were invited to the UN for a special visit.

The students, all in the fifth grade at their schools, were treated to a tour of the UN and a meeting with the Secretary-General in which Mr. Ban urged them to take small actions for the climate, including conserving water and energy, using sustainable means of transport and recycling.

Several students even got to ask Mr. Ban their own questions about climate, including what motivates the Secretary-General to keep up the fight against climate change. Mr. Ban said he was inspired by his own grandchildren and wants them to have a happy and healthy future.

 

Read the letters the students wrote to Mr. Ban here: http://bit.ly/28MPrwa