ASEAN World Environment Day 2022:
Act Locally, Impact Locally
Maintaining our surroundings is crucial to creating harmonious life for our future well-being. Sadly, many environmental issues are happening. World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5, is a crucial moment to bring attention to environmental problems. The World Environment Day 2022 global campaign #OnlyOneEarth calls for transformative changes to policies and choices to promote greener, cleaner, and sustainable living in harmony with nature. In relation to these issues, take a look at the update from Southeast Asia Countries commemorating World Environment Day 2022.
In 2017, Can Tho city have achieved ASEAN certificate as a city with potential environmental sustainability in clean air. In 2019, the Clean Air Action Plan of Can Tho City till 2025 was issued. Measures to minimize emissions generated in the industry, agriculture, transportation, and tourism are applied, such as the eco-industrial park model, ecotourism, and the deployment of an electric tram system for tourism. All emissions of operating vehicles must meet the emission criteria. Energy-saving program in production facilities has contributed positively to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The air quality was monitored efficiently.
The environmental criteria in the Nation Target Program on New Rural Development and the movement “All people unite to build cultural life” have positively impacted the appearance of the environment in urban and rural.
Education on environmental protection has been promoted in schools. Protection of the environment, natural resources, and biodiversity are integrated in the subjects and deployed in the local education program of the city. Therefore, the awareness and responsibility of the people on environmental protection have been increasingly raised.
The city will continue to build a green, clean, and environmentally friendly Can Tho environment, continue to embellish the city, strictly control waste sources, prevent pollution from maintaining and improving high environmental quality of the city, meeting environmental sustainability goals.
In Indonesia, GCoM National Training on Climate Change Adaptation held a study visit to commemorate Environment Day. Twenty-one representatives from Regional Development Agency and Environmental Agency from 21 selected cities and local governments participated in the “Stay close to nature” activity.
Malaysia was also excited to be part of the World Environment Day Celebration. At Taman Tugu on June 5, The World Wildlife Fund Inc. (WWF) Malaysia ran a booth for people to learn more about climate change and tiger conservation in Malaysia.
As excited as Malaysia, the Sustainable Singapore Gallery also organized an exciting event named Out of The Blue. It discovered the threats marine life faces due to human actions, how they are affected, and how we can mitigate these threats.
Due to the commune election, which falls on World Environment Day, the Cambodian celebration was held earlier, from May 10 to June 3. There were three components of the celebration: a cycling campaign, an online campaign, and a full-day workshop.
Meanwhile, the government of Laos believes that the protection of natural resources and environments is a key to the country’s development and people’s quality of life. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment said that during the World Environment Day event, which included the release of 13,000 fish and the planting of 68 large trees and 550 saplings at the Nampoc natural resource management demonstration zone.
On the other side, Thailand focuses on realizing resource shortage problems and the escalating environmental impact. That is why the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) organizes environmental activities throughout June, due to the world environment day on June 5, under the “EGAT for ALL circulates to change the world” concept.
The month-long activities are also held by the Philipines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Efforts toward the protection and sustainable use of the country’s natural resources are highlighted through activities that call for collective and transformative action to protect and restore the planet.
As for Brunei Darussalam, the Ministry of Development will be joining the Eco Festival in conjunction with Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (MYCE) 2022. The Minister emphasized that every action and commitment are significant in keeping our nation’s environment clean and pollution-free.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the State Administration Council, Prime Minister Senior General, Mr. Min Aung Hlaing said that Myanmar established 25.8% of protected forests to reach 30% of national lands for forest ecosystem and natural resource protection by 2030. The declaration was made at the Myanmar International Convention Centre-II in Nay Pyi Taw during a commemoration of World Environment Day 2022.
According to the Senior General, the government has been monitoring environmental arrangements in economic development, and the people will confront dwindling natural resources and environmental deterioration as a result. Myanmar must strongly emphasize reducing environmental degradation and the negative effects of climate change.
“Only One Earth” was the motto for the 1972 Stockholm Conference. The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of UNEP as an outcome of the Stockholm Conference. Fifty years on, the motto is as pertinent as ever.
