The Ministry of Environment on May 5 celebrated National and World Environment Day – which falls on June 5 but was observed one month early as the date has been set for the commune council elections – in Battambang province to promote environmentally friendly activities that contribute to beautifying the planet and safeguarding the welfare of everyone living on it.
The event was organised by the ministry’s General Directorate of Environmental Knowledge and Information in collaboration with the provincial administration, and presided over by ministry undersecretary of state Prum Sophy.
It was also attended by provincial deputy governor Thou Phea, the general department’s acting head Touch Vina and Battambang town governor Heng Thea.
Teachers, students, youths, the general public and community members also marked the occasion along with Minebea Cambodia, Coca-Cola, DCA, CAMBREW, Caritas and the Wildlife Organization who all participated in the celebrations.
Vina said at the event that observing World Environment Day was important because it reflected a joint effort by society and government to contribute to the environmental cause.
“Today’s celebration will be a driving force to promote environmentally friendly activities and contribute to making our planet clean, green and beautiful with better health and improved welfare for everyone,” he added.
Prum Sophy said that today’s gathering was meant to showcase the achievements of the government related to their Covid-19 vaccination campaigns to boost “herd immunity” and protect the lives of everyone across the country – regardless of political affiliation – and with equal access for all foreigners living in the Kingdom.
“Environmental work is being paid a great deal of attention by much of the world and it requires all stakeholders – including national, regional and global governance and diplomatic frameworks – to join together to effectively manage the environment and natural resources.
“We must put our collective heads together to try and maintain the safety of the planet, social progress and sustainable living,” he said.
Sophy added that the purpose of designating a certain day on the calendar as the official day for any given issue is to help raise public awareness of those issues – in this case the environment.
He said that greater public awareness might encourage people and communities to become active agents for sustainable and environmentally friendly development.
It could also encourages the public to join together to prevent harm to the environment and encourages the private sector to take better care of the environment by making a coordinated push for global support for the cause.
This year is Cambodia’s 29th in which it observes the National and World Environment Days. This year’s national theme is “Care for the Planet for Our Health”, while the theme for the World Environment Day is “One Planet”.
