Menlo-Atherton High School has been awarded the top prize in the 2011 Climate Generation competition, it was announced Tuesday, May 24.

Climate Generation is an annual statewide competition sponsored by the California Air Resources Board that challenges high school students to address climate change, clean energy and sustainability with innovative outreach projects.

Menlo-Atherton students developed "Behavior Change or Climate Change," a school-wide education campaign that taught students how simple lifestyle changes can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to giving a series of presentations, the students coordinated a variety of school groups, obtained funding, and gained the support of the parent-teacher association. They also surveyed students before and after the presentations to measure the success of their efforts.

Arroyo High School in El Monte was awarded second prize for creating an on-campus composting system, while the third-place winner, Ukiah High School in Ukiah, led a city-wide campaign to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags.

The Climate Generation Program is an outgrowth of the British Council's Climate Champions initiative, an international program that seeks to encourage young people to engage climate issues in their communities and on an international scale.

— Caitlin Moyles

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