​​​​​​​Earth Hour 2022 Theme “Shape Our Future” Sparks the Need for More Collective Commitment for a Sustainable Planet

​​​​​​​Earth Hour 2022 Theme “Shape Our Future” Sparks the Need for More Collective Commitment for a Sustainable Planet

Cambodia is going to join the rest of the world in marking this year’s Earth Hour on Mar. 26 under the theme “Shape Our Future”, which sparks the need for more collective commitment for a sustainable planet, according to a joint press release made public this morning.

“Earth Hour is a great opportunity for all of us, to show how much we care about nature and environment and to help others understand its vital importance in all our lives on earth as well as taking part in creating solutions to the devastating threats of climate change and ecosystems degradation impacting people, nature and planet. It is a time to celebrate, but also a time to highlight the need for action beyond the hour from all of us on daily basis to protect the environment and natural resources,” said H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Environment.

Celebrities such as Ms. Meas Soksophea, Ms. Adda, Ms. Neang Sovathana or better known as DJ. Nana, and Mr. Sai have joined the movement to raise greater public awareness about the importance of nature for the health and well-being of human and the environment, and promote the need for shaping a better future for both people and nature.

One hour light out on every last Saturday of March has become a global icon for action since Earth Hour was born in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, to raise awareness about the impact of energy consumption on the environment. By switching off your lights for one hour, you can make a substantial difference in energy consumption, raise public awareness, change behaviours and help reduce the effects of global warming on this planet.

“Earth Hour continues to show us the impact we can achieve when we unite, sparking hope for the future we can shape for generations to come. By reducing our energy consumption and making small changes in our daily lives, we can make an impact on the effect of the climate crisis. This is the future that we’re working towards and everyone has a role to play,” said H.E. Pablo Kang, Australian Ambassador to Cambodia.

Powered by people, Earth Hour is one of the largest environmental movements in the world. This year, more people from the Royal Government Ministries, local community, youth, public and private entities, non-governmental organisations, media and households across Cambodia are coming together to demonstrate their actions towards a healthier and better future for all.

As we continue to adapt our lives to the impacts of COVID-19, Earth Hour 2022 calls for prioritising nature-based solutions to build back better post COVID-19, celebrate the vital role played by the natural world in all our lives from nourishing us with food, water and fresh air to providing livelihoods for many million.

“Natural resources and the ecosystem services it supports, is a fundamental life-support for people, wildlife and biodiversity, while it’s also an underpinning of the country’s sustainable economic performance. Safeguarding the natural resources and protecting the earth – our shared home – are our duties,” said Mr. Seng Teak, WWF Cambodia Country Director. “Together, we can shape a future where people and nature can live in a harmony.”

Sustainability is an increasingly important issue for people, especially in the business world. The effect of climate change and nature loss are impacting our lives as well as the fate of all other species around the planet. For companies, entrepreneurs, and individuals, sustainable business practices are becoming imperatives.

“Earth Hour is more than just an hour for our planet, it is a movement for our future generations. It is a powerful global symbol of unity, hope, and the collective actions needed to tackle climate change. There are no easy or immediate solutions for this, however we believe public institutions, private sectors, non-governmental organisations, and all of us as citizens of Earth have a role to play in combating climate change urgently now,” Mr. Samson Wong, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Cambodia said.

Young people can play an active role in protecting and improving the environment. They can change their lifestyle and how it affects the environment. They can make their homes, schools and youth organisations more environmentally friendly by adopting environmentally friendly practices, recycling of different materials as well as preserving resources such as water and electricity.

Youth participation starts with each individual, from cleanliness, water and electricity consumption, planting trees at home and in their community, said Mr. Chin Sonita, Team leader of “យុវផែនដី”, adding that engaging youth in environmental protection not only creates a direct impact on changing youth behaviours and attitudes, but also help influence their family and community members to be more responsible for the protection of environment and natural resources, for a better society they can help shape.

Economic growth and environment performance go hand in hand. Protecting nature and environment is critical to socio-economic development and sustainable growth, providing the resources we need to produce goods, services and jobs.

“We need to develop local economy using the forests protection system that will generate income through the sale of carbon credits in the international voluntary market, to raise funds for strengthening natural resource conservation and community development as incentive for effective community protected area management. In parallel, the development of ecotourism creates new jobs, increasing incomes and improving the livelihoods of local people, as a contribution for Cambodia to achieve its sustainable development goals,” said H.E. Neth Pheaktra. “Cambodia has been making continuous efforts to protect its natural resources to ensure the sustainability and quality of the natural environment for the benefit of humanity for many generations to come. Cambodia has also been implanting its long-term strategic plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”

“Cambodia is committed to implementing the National Forest Monitoring System and the Environmental and Social Safety Information System in support of the implementation of the Greenhouse Gases Reduction, Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) project, and the goal to reduce the rate of deforestation by half by 2030 as part of the forestry and land use (FOLU) plans in line with Cambodia’s REDD+ strategy,” he added. AKP