On June 5th, the Government Media and Information Center (GMIC) hosted an exclusive event to commemorate the International Day of the Environment. This significant gathering was organized by the National Environmental Protection Authority (NEPA) and graced by the presence of H.E. Mawlawi Abdul Salaam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, alongside the cabinet ministers, state department officials, and representatives from both national and international organizations and institutions.
During the event, H.E. Mawlawi Abdul Salaam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, emphasized the pivotal role of industrial countries in greenhouse gas production, which adversely affects nations like Afghanistan. He stressed the moral obligation of industrial powers to collaborate with Afghanistan in addressing this issue.
Additionally, the Deputy PM asserted that a safe environment is a fundamental human right, underscoring the collective responsibility to strive for environmental preservation and to heighten public awareness on this critical matter.
Following this, Hafiz Aziz Rahman, the Director of NEPA, highlighted the global deterioration of ecosystems and the alarming degradation of the environment, a vital foundation for humanity. He emphasized the imperative for nations to collaborate in addressing these challenges.
Discussing the factors contributing to environmental damage, the Director of NEPA identified pollution, global warming, climate change, droughts, flash floods, and the degradation of soil and ecosystems as primary concerns. He underscored Afghanistan’s vulnerability to these negative impacts and stressed the international community’s obligation to support Afghanistan in addressing these issues. Additionally, he urged the international community to expedite delayed projects aimed at combating the dangers posed by climate change.
Likewise, the Director of NEPA revealed that Afghanistan has membership in 16 international environmental conventions and protocols. He said that Afghanistan is committed to fulfilling the goals and obligations of these agreements despite inadequate financial and technical support from international organizations.
Moreover, at the event, the Acting Minister of Housing and Urban Development, along with the NEPA Deputy and representatives from national and international organizations, urged the international community for assistance in combating the threats posed by climate change to Afghanistan.
