The programme called on younger generations to engage in environmental protection, improve air quality and work towards sustainable development.
The event not only aimed to raise public awareness of water resource protection and climate change response but also provided an opportunity for children and youths to demonstrate their pioneering role in environmental activities.
The organising committee has rolled out a range of practical initiatives, including exhibitions of paintings on water conservation, the launch of an environmental creativity contest, a walk themed “60 Minutes for a Green Future”, and tree-planting activities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh emphasised that water, climate, and energy are three fundamental pillars directly shaping sustainable development. In Viet Nam, water resources and hydrometeorological conditions significantly affect water security, food security, livelihoods, ecosystem stability, and economic growth.
Amid increasingly complex global climate change, resource management and environmental protection are facing numerous challenges. Extreme weather events such as powerful storms, heavy rainfall, droughts, saltwater intrusion, and landslides are becoming more frequent, placing considerable pressure on infrastructure, production,and people’s lives.
Silvia Danailov, Representative of UNICEF in Viet Nam, noted that according to the Children’s Climate Risk Indexup to 99.5% of children in Viet Nam are affected by climate and environmental risks. These impacts directly influence health, education, and overall development. The programme aims to empower children and youth to take part in environmental protection activities, enabling them to become key agents in raising awareness within the community.
Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh called on ministries, sectors, localities, businesses, and citizens to join hands through building a national database on natural resources and the environment, applying monitoring technologies, integrating climate change response into development strategies, encouraging energy efficiency, protecting water resources, and promoting gender equality in resource management.
“We cannot wait for the future to change; we must act today. Preserving every drop of water, protecting every resource, and improving air quality is a shared responsibility of society,” he stressed.
