Vientiane: In a statement issued ahead of June 5, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Linkham Douangsavanh said this year's observance aims to raise public awareness of environmental protection and the urgent need to tackle climate change. According to Lao News Agency, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has designated the 2026 World Environment Day theme as "Implementing Climate Action," while Laos adopted the national slogan: "It's Time for Us to Care About a Bright and Vibrant Climate." The minister warned that Laos is increasingly experiencing the effects of climate change, including extreme heat, forest fires, haze and PM2.5 pollution, unseasonal rainfall, floods, droughts and soil erosion. These challenges have affected infrastructure, agricultural production and the livelihoods of communities across the country. To address these issues, the government has adopted a range of policies and strategies, including a National Climate Change Strategy, climate change and carbon credit regulat ions, and climate targets under the National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2026-2030. Laos aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon absorption by 60% by 2030, while working toward net-zero emissions by 2050. Key measures include expanding clean energy, promoting electric vehicles, protecting biodiversity and increasing national forest cover to 70% by 2035. This year's Environment Day celebration is being held in conjunction with National Tree Planting Day, with activities encouraging the public to plant trees, reduce plastic waste, prevent open burning and help protect forests and natural resources.
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