Here’s a really interesting summer vacation assignment. All elementary school fifth graders in the Tokyo’s Koto Ward are required to take action to reduce greenhouse gas at home as part of their summer vacation homework.

The kids will be doing the projects this summer and they’re supposed to record their environmentally friendly actions, such as “turning off lights in unused rooms,” “setting the air conditioner to 28 degrees Celsius” and “shortening the period of taking a shower.”

Awards will be given to the individual child, class and school that achieve the largest cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

Officials believe that “If children take action, then their parents will get involved as well”.

Source: Mainichi JP

Since its just a matter of recording their actions, then I wonder if the kids are really honest about what they do. If I was a kid, I’d just write down a whole list of things I “intend” to do and then go out and play. Or maybe I’d play my PS3 in my air-conditioned room instead. =P