The national Minister of Environment and Forestry has called on the public to protect the environment to enable cleaner, greener, and sustainable living.
Josephine Napwon said South Sudan is experiencing massive deforestation, and plastic pollution in towns, streams, and rivers.
She underscored the importance of all stakeholders in regulating the climate to safeguard clean water, purify the air, maintain soil from erosion, recycle nutrients, and provide food.
South Sudan marked World Environmental Day on Monday. The day is celebrated annually on the June 5, but South Sudan rescheduled it due to other commitments by the Ministry.
Under the ‘Only One Earth’ theme, Napwon echoed calls for transformative changes to policies and choices that are in harmony with nature.
“Earth is a home for different living species and we are all dependent on the environment for food, air, water, and other needs. Therefore, it is important for every individual to save and protect our environment,” she emphasized.
Napwon further raised the alarm over unsustainable solid and liquid waste management and oil pollution in the oil producing areas. She directed oil companies and the public to protect the environment to support healthy ecosystem.
The Vice President in-charge of Service Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol who was the guest of honor during the event in Juba said: “It is incumbent upon us to ensure [earth] safety and protection for us and for many more generations to come as our forefathers left it for us.”
A representative of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Christy Ahenkora asked the government to priorities policies that promote environmental health to enable good production.
“All of us the stakeholders have a collective responsibility to ensure that earth is safe not just for u as human being but for every living spicy, plants, animals and water bodies,” she stated. “That is the only way we can continue to have the food and shelter and all the other things we need for continued existence.”
South Sudan marked World Environment Day under the theme; ‘Save Environment, Save Lives.’
In Juba, a series of campaign activities were initiated including cleaning of the streets, planting of trees, awareness raising and the launch of the ‘National Determined Contribution’ document to boost healthy living.