Port Douglas Year 5 students Evie and Luca are on a mission to clear the air, warning parents about the hidden dangers of car idling outside school gates.

As part of a unique school project, the duo is rallying the community to turn off running engines and protect young lungs during afternoon pick-up.

To spread the word, the pair is creating an educational video, installing signs at the front gate, and preparing a slide presentation for Douglas Shire Council.

Their efforts are part of the Gifted Global Green project, an initiative introduced in 2014 by the Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre. 

The program empowers high-achieving students across the Cairns District to tackle real-world environmental problems with practical community solutions.

Evie and Luca focused on an issue right outside their classroom: exhaust fumes at the school gates. While researching, they uncovered a startling comparison.

“The most surprising thing we found out was that car idling is basically the exact same as smoking, and how harmful it can be to children and the environment,” Evie and Luca explained. 

“Because our bodies are still developing, exhaust particles settle in our lungs, increasing the risk of conditions like asthma, heart problems, and other illnesses.”

“Parents should know that idling cars produce concentrated pollutants right at breathing height, so leaving an engine running near a child is just like smoking a cigarette around them,” the pair added. 

“Just one minute of idling creates roughly 150 balloons’ worth of harmful pollution, and turning your car off and on actually uses less fuel than idling for more than 10 seconds.”

Understanding that Far North Queensland heat makes switching off the air conditioning tough, Evie and Luca have come up with constructive solutions. 

They are advocating for planting more curbside shade trees and rethinking school pick-up routines to prevent traffic bottlenecks.

Guiding them through this journey is teacher Cara Shearer, who says watching the students take charge has been inspiring.

“To see them learn and gain confidence in areas like public speaking, research, and critical thinking has been an amazing experience,” Ms Shearer said. 

“Their initiative demonstrates that young people can have a meaningful voice in creating positive environmental change.”