ASEAN Environment Year 2015 celebrated in Myanmar

The ASEAN Environment Year (AEY) 2015 celebration themed “Empowering the Youth for a Green ASEAN Community” was held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on July 29-30, according to the ASEAN Secretariat.

The AEY is a celebration held once every three years to showcase ASEAN achievement and commitment to environmental protection, and to promote public awareness on environmental issues in general.
At the event, the second ASEAN Eco-schools Award was presented to ten primary and ten secondary eco-schools to recognise their exemplary efforts in inculcating environmental awareness in all aspects of education to students and surrounding communities. The selection of the eco-schools was based on national criteria and the ASEAN Guidelines on Eco-schools adopted by the ASEAN Environment Ministers in 2011.

Hanoi-Amsterdam school and Foreign Language Specialised School under University of Languages and International Studies – Hanoi National University were honoured with the award.

An exhibition showcasing ASEAN member states’ best practices and success stories on eco-school programmes as well as environmentally friendly products was held at the sideline of the event.

On this occasion, a tree-planting ceremony was organised, representing the group’s commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development.

Empowering the youth and education holds a staple role in achieving clean and green ASEAN Community, said Win Tun, Union Minister of Environment Conservation and Forestry of Myanmar said, adding that the event and the award will encourage young generations, education institutions and communities in the region to join hands to adopt environmentally friendly practices in all of human activities.-VNA