A European Union delegation to Libya announced that it has funded a campaign to promote and encourage the culture of afforestation. This is part of an international campaign that seeks to raise awareness of the effects of climate change, and limit its effects on the planet.
The initiative is titled Green Again and is organized by the Chlorophyll Organization. This coincides with International Mother Earth Day, on April 22.
“The world celebrates on April 22 of each year the International Mother Earth Day, which is an important occasion that aims to raise awareness and appreciation for our planet and its environment,” the delegation said.
“This day also serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect the planet, for a better future for the next generations,” it added.
The EU stressed that climate change, pollution, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity are some of the major challenges facing the planet now. It also noted the importance of taking action to address these issues, and protect the Earth’s natural resources.
The European Union is “keen to work hard towards a transition to a climate-neutral economy that uses natural resources efficiently, while recognizing that human well-being and prosperity depend on healthy ecosystems,” according to the statement.
The delegation affirmed that it is supporting local efforts to help Libya to meet the climate and environmental challenges facing the world today.
In January, the Japanese government announced a new contribution of $750,000 to UNICEF Libya. This is designated towards improving access to and the use of equitable and climate-resilient Emergency Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services. This will allow UNICEF to reach 125,000 people across the country, including 50,000 children.
The program, which is intended to run for 12 months, will strengthen the capacity of WASH systems to legislate, finance, plan, and coordinate climate-resilient critical initiatives for equitable, safe, and sustainable WASH services.
UNICEF will implement the program, in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Local Governance.
Japan is a long and valued partner of UNICEF in Libya, and UNICEF programs have received over $5 million dollars since 2020, benefiting multi-sectoral emergency response to conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNICEF Representative for Libya, Michele Servadei stated “UNICEF thanks the people and Government of Japan for the continuous support. Addressing water scarcity and improving water provision services remain a top priority for UNICEF in Libya. It is essential to repair non-functional systems in the most vulnerable areas, as well as build capacity for a climate-resilient water supply, which means attention to renewable energy and locally managed solutions.”