By Thameen Kheetan

AMMAN - High school students from Jordan and the US have called for an increased use of environment-friendly technology and alternative sources of energy to combat climate change.

In a two-way dialogue via digital video conferencing on Wednesday, 22 high school students from Amman and Washington, DC pointed out that there is "a lot" they could do in day-to-day life to tackle global warming.

Transportation, IT and other technologies are domains where people can reduce energy consumption and the production of greenhouse gases, the students noted during the one-hour conference, which was led by Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Walid Maani and US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

"I feel we should encourage more recycling and educate the younger generation about the danger posed by climate change on their future," noted Zaki, from Jordan.

He highlighted the importance of using hybrid cars, bikes and motorcycles, as well as promoting the use of public transportation to lessen the negative impact on the environment by the collective effect of each person using a private car.

American students agreed, noting that school buildings normally waste significant amounts of energy that can be saved.

"I've noticed that we usually leave the computers open after using them," remarked a female student from Washington. She warned students and teachers about the harm they cause by forgetting to turn off in the classroom lights after lessons.

School administrations could buy energy-efficient computers and use timers on electrical lights, she proposed.

Meanwhile, Jordanian student Qais expressed concern about the impact of climate change on people's health, noting that a rise in the average temperature of the planet is leading to more cases of skin cancer.

The American students voiced similar health concerns regarding their country, as well as fears that rising sea levels caused by melting ice at the poles would end up flooding cities such as New York and California.

Tackling an issue of worldwide concern, Wednesday's discussion was "tough", according to Maani.

"I was going to interfere and answer some questions but I decided not to… I found they were difficult," he told participants, voicing hope that they "continue to discuss similar problems in the future".

“We are looking forward to reinforcing constructive dialogue among us through more collaborative projects and programmes between our students and educators in all educational aspects as bridges for peace, tolerance and a better life for our children,” he noted.

The dialogue was organised by the US Department of Education in cooperation with the iEARN (International Education and Resource Network), which is the world's largest nonprofit global network that enables teachers and youths to use the Internet and other technologies to collaborate on projects that enhance learning and make a difference in the world, according to a US embassy statement.

The region, due to its arid climate, is one of the areas most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

So far, climate change has caused a 30 per cent reduction in the Kingdom's surface water resources, as well as a decrease in the volume of rainfall and agricultural production, both of which the country and the Arab world heavily rely on.

If climate change continues at its current pace, Jordan is expected to witness a 1-2°C increase in temperatures by 2030-2050, diminished aquifers and oases, reduced green cover and the transformation of semi-arid lands, some 80 per cent of the country's total area, into arid deserts, according to environment experts.

Climate change is also an issue of concern in America.

During last month's UN General Assembly in New York, US President Barack Obama said his country has invested $80 billion in clean energy to confront climate change.

During the dialogue, Duncan highlighted the importance of "partnerships with governments, citizens, community organisations, religious leaders, businesses and international organisations" to address climate change.

The Jordanian students taking part in the discussion were selected after a competition between some 150 public school students in Amman, according to Nuha Tarawneh, a supervisor at the Education Ministry.

"Interesting", was how one student described her experience.

"We had the opportunity to measure our cultural level and how much confidence we have to speak in public," Nagham Isbaih told The Jordan Times.

Isbaih noted that she would like to talk about different technologies if she had another chance to take part in a similar project. "We need to dispel the stereotype that we, Arabs, still live in tents and ride camels."