World Environment Day: Commemorative ceremony held in Nay Pyi Taw

A ceremony to commemorate 2024 World Environment Day was held at Myanmar International Convention Center II in Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday morning.

Secretary of the State Administration Council Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dwe attended the ceremony together with the Council members, Union Ministers, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman, Deputy Ministers, many other concerned officials, students, teachers and faculty members from the universities and basic education schools.

Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary of the State Administration Council stressed that the UN General Assembly designated 5th June as World Environment Day in 1972 and 2024 World Environment Day theme is “Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience”. Due to severe climate change and environmental degradation, the countries across the world including Myanmar are suffering from high temperature, heavy rain and droughts.

Also, environmental degradation and climate change contribute to a range of public health problems. The government is making exerted efforts for the establishment of forest reserves and protected public forests in 30 per cent of the country’s land areas and natural conservation areas in 10 per cent of the country by 2030 as part of efforts to systematically reduce deforestation and protect forests.

Thus, all citizens need to participate in forest conservation and reforestation activities. In combating desertification and droughts, it’s necessary to emphasize on accelerating multi-cropping, preserving marine resources, using natural fertilizers in growing plantations and reducing the usage of plastic bags.

He also encouraged the attendees to make concerted efforts in conducting land restoration, combating desertification and building drought resilience activities for the emergence of green and clean developed nation with moderate weather.

Next, video messages sent by UN Secretary General and Executive Director of UNEP were screened. Then, the Secretary of the State Administration Council presented honorary awards and certificates to environmental management award winners, Kalaw Township of Shan State, Than Bo Ywar Thit Village of Magway Region and Shwe Taung Cement Co., Ltd (Apache Cement) of Mandalay Region.

Then, the SAC members Porel Aung Thein, Dr. HmuHtan and Dr. Ba Shwe presented honorary awards and certificates to the National Level Green and Clean award winners Basic Education Schools, 1st, 2nd and 3rd award winners in article and essay competitions marking World Environment Day respectively. Then, a video clip commemorating 2024 World Environment Day was screened. After a documentary photo session, the Secretary of the State Administration Council together with the attendees made a tour around commemorative exhibitions.