Regional Government marks World Environment Day by promoting initiatives across all islands and launching new educational resource - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

With a view to celebrating World Environment Day, observed today, the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action has organised various initiatives taking place across all the Azorean islands between May 31 and June 8. They are intended to raise awareness, inform and involve citizens in environmental preservation, nature conservation and the adoption of more sustainable practices.

During the day, the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, attended several events in Horta to mark the occasion. These included the prize-delivery ceremony for the "Climate Innovation" ideas competition, promoted by the Regional Directorate for the Environment and Climate Action, as well as the Eco-Schools flag-raising ceremony at the António José de Ávila School.

"These initiatives acknowledge the merit and involvement of our young people in environmental issues, encouraging innovation and critical thinking in the search for solutions and contributions to the sustainable development of our islands," stated Alonso Miguel.

"The celebration of World Environment Day represents an opportunity that encourages us to reflect on our behaviour and the role that each of us can play in protecting the planet," he continued.

The occasion was also marked by the launch of the board game "Discovering the Protected Areas of the Azores," aimed at elementary school students, which was promoted with a class from the aforementioned school. 

“The game invites students and teachers to learn more about the extraordinary natural heritage of the Azores, exploring our protected areas in a dynamic and accessible way, their role in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem balance, and how we can contribute to their preservation,” he added.

The Regional Secretary emphasised that "this new educational resource represents another teaching tool created to bring children and young people even closer to the environment and nature surrounding them."

According to Alonso Miguel, "the Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action has been strengthening its commitment to environmental education year after year as a way of raising awareness and involving the school community in major environmental issues. This has been achieved through the School Awareness Activities Programme, which is available to all schools in the Region and will now be joined by this new teaching resource."

The government official revealed that "since the launch of the School Environmental Awareness Activities Programme in 2022, 2,370 activities have been organised, involving more than 51 thousand participants. These impressive figures reflect the positive and growing impact of these activities in the Azorean school context, with significant repercussions on environmental awareness."

Alonso Miguel stated that "the programme of activities prepared as part of the World Environment Day celebrations includes thematic workshops, coastal clean-up operations, planting of endemic species, interpretive visits to natural areas, in addition to cultural and recreational activities, including theatre, music, dance and educational games, aimed at different age groups.”

Alonso Miguel also highlighted the screening of the documentary "Climate Change – What Future for the Azores?" across all islands. This initiative is promoted by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action and is targeted at the general public, but with a special focus on secondary school students.

"With this documentary, we want to inform and raise awareness of the challenges that climate change poses to our archipelago, promoting a change in attitudes and a commitment, both individual and collective, to environmental sustainability," he stressed.

According to the Regional Secretary, "a week full of activities has been prepared on all islands, aimed not only at schoolchildren but also at families and the community in general, to promote environmental awareness and the sustainable development of our islands.” He added that "the activities prepared involve the collaboration and participation of various partner entities, including environmental non-governmental organisations, educational institutions and private entities.”

Alonso Miguel concluded by stating that these initiatives strengthen the Region's commitment to environmental preservation, protection of natural heritage and promotion of sustainable development in the Azores.