Getting ready to come to Mongolia for World Environment Day 2013, one of my earnest wishes was to get a chance to meet the President of Mongolia, Mr Elbegdorj Tsahia; who is one of the leading voices on green development and environmental sustainability worldwide. Today my wish came true as I had the unique opportunity to meet with him and ask questions in the media briefing at the State Palace, Ulaanbaatar.
The main focus of today however was the very crucial National forum on Green development which also took place at the State Palace, Ulaanbaatar. The forum was organised by the Ministry of Environment and Green Development of Mongolia. Opening the forum, the Minister for Environment and Green Development, Dr Oyun Sanjaasuren, spoke of what hosting this year’s World Environment Day celebration meant to Mongolia. ”It is a great honour and responsibility to host this year’s World Environment Day celebration, and also a great opportunity to show what we have to the world. Mongolians have a long and rich nomadic history and her people have for centuries lived in harmony with nature; and now more than ever the government is persistent in its policy to ensure green development in Mongolia”.
Also speaking was the President of Mongolia, Mr Elbegdorj Tsahia. The President talked about the environment with so much passion and clarity and also without recourse to his notes! He also spoke of the challenges and successes of making a transition to a Green Economy in a world of stark economic realities. “For the government of Mongolia, green development is not a choice; it is something we must do”. He also spoke of the giant strides the government has made such as reorganizing a formerly line Ministry of Environment and Tourism into a core Ministry of Environment and Green Development (one of only four core ministries). Other successes include passage of legislation in Parliament for the creation of National Parks and most notably the reduction in mining licenses from 46 percent in 2009 to 12 percent at present.
Mr Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director also spoke at the forum. He thanked the Mongolia government for hosting the global community for World Environment Day 2013. He highlighted that in the 21st century the economy and the environment are intricately intertwined. He thanked Mongolia for being a loud voice for the environment in the face of very brutal economic argument. Other speakers at the forum included: Professor Sander van der Leeuw, Champion of the Earth 2012, Professor Chuluun Togtokh, Director General, Department of Green Development Policy and Planning, Mongolia and a host of others.
The occasion also afforded a media sit-down with the Executive Director UNEP, Achim Steiner with over 17 foreign media representatives participating. Mr Steiner again reiterated the commitment of the UNEP to ensure that the 21st century is a story of sustainable development. While fielding various questions from the media, he noted that this year’s World Environment Day theme Think.Eat.Save. Reduce your Foodprint draws attention to the enormous ethical, economic and environmental issue that food waste/losses poses as well as the need to let people all over the world know that they have a role to play in addressing the global food waste pandemic. He ended by thanking Mongolia again for hosting World Environment Day this year as well as congratulating her on the huge strides she has taken towards ensuring a sustainable future
Mongolia is indeed the quintessence of green development, and has clearly demonstrated that when leadership, vision, smart policies and political will are combined and translated into action, change is indeed possible.
|
|
iakhimien's Blog 