The Hà Nội People’s Committee hosted a ceremony yesterday to kick start a series of activities for 2016 World Environment Day which is celebrated in Việt Nam with the theme “Nature’s Call and Our Actions”.— Photo nhandan.com.vn

HÀ NỘI – The Hà Nội People’s Committee hosted a ceremony yesterday to kick start a series of activities for 2016 World Environment Day which is celebrated in Việt Nam with the theme “Nature’s Call and Our Actions”.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Environment Day (June 5) aims to inspire people around the world to take action to prevent the strain on Earth’s natural systems from reaching breaking point.

This year’s theme is the fight against the illegal wildlife trade, which erodes precious biodiversity and threatens the survival of awe-inspiring species, such as elephants, rhinos and tigers, as well as other creatures that are just as fascinating but less well-known.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hà Nội People’s Committee Chairman Nguyễn Đức Chung urged local authorities at all levels, businesses and residents to help each other protect the environment. He also announced to the public the city’s website for environmental protection at “thudoxanhsachdep.gov.vn”.

After the event, the city’s leaders, delegates and young people planted trees together and cleaned public spaces around Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

On the same day, 30 districts and towns of Hà Nội kicked off their own activities in response to World Environment Day. Residents planted trees, collected waste, cleaned sewage and removed illegal wall advertisements.

A children’s drawing competition for environmental protection was also co-organised by the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and its Hà Nội chapter and Nhi Đồng (Children) Newspaper to raise children’s awareness of environmental issues.

About 100 young people from the municipal Department of Environment and Natural Resources, youth unions of the city’s agencies and volunteer clubs participated in a cycling parade around the main streets of Hà Nội to call for the joint effort of local communities to protect the environment.

Earlier on Saturday, Hà Nội planted 1,000 ban (Bauhinia Variegata) trees along Võ Nguyên Giáp street as part of the plan to grow one million trees for 2016-2020 in the city. Ban flower is typical to the northern mountainous region of Việt Nam, often in blossom in spring. — VNS