Government of the Azores and European Blue Flag Association sign protocol on the World Environment Day
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment and the European Blue Flag Association (ABAE) will mark the World Environment Day with the signing of a protocol to reinforce the Environmental Education and Sustainable Development in the Region projects and the delivery of the Green Key 2015 awards. The event will be held Friday in Lajes do Pico at 10:30 AM.
The ninth edition of this award, which also distinguishes Azorean companies, includes, for the first time, Local Accommodation and Restaurants, as has been done in other countries that make up this international network.
The Green Key initiative is currently implemented in 48 countries and has been awarded to 2,800 accommodation lodges, which represents a significant growth in the international network.
The programme registers an increase of 30% nationwide, compared to the winners of the 2014 edition. The award delivery ceremony to take place in the Azores is also one of the events organised under the European Sustainable Development Week.
ABAE is a non-governmental and non-profit environmental organisation focused on education for the sustainable development, management and recognition of good environmental practices. It is a member of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
In turn, FEE brings together international organisations from more than 60 countries that jointly promote environmental education activities for Sustainability.
The World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5. The date was set by the General Assembly of the United Nations to mark the opening of the 1st World Conference on Human Environment, known as the Stockholm Conference, held in 1972.
This date is considered to be a privileged way to promote global awareness of environmental issues. In order to mark the World Environment Day, the Regional Government has been disseminating, since June 1, environmental curiosities in various media channels as well in the online platforms of the Regional Directorate for the Environment.
These contents, provided in the format "Did you know that ...," aim to raise the awareness of citizens for the active participation in the protection and improvement of environmental quality. This dissemination action is being developed in partnership with Rádio Pico (radio station), RDP-Açores and RTP-Açores.
The notebook "Find out more ... Azores Environment" will be also available on the Educating for the Environment portal at the electronic address http://educarparaoambiente.azores.gov.pt. This is a new regional educational resource that addresses several issues related to environmental laws and conventions, environmental management tools and international classifications of environmental promotion and sustainable development.
In addition to the World Environment Day, the Region also joined the celebrations of the European Sustainable Development Week, from May 30 until June 5. The latter is supported by the European Sustainable Development Network, which aims foster and disseminate activities, projects and events in the area of sustainable development.
In the Azores, the Government, through Natural Parks, is promoting 61 activities in partnership with 14 organisations.