Honiara Stakeholders Unite for Coastal Clean-up to Mark Environmental Days
HONIARA, Solomon Islands – The Environment and Conservation Division (ECD), alongside various partners and stakeholders, officially commenced a series of environmental activities today with a general cleanup at the Rove seafront and several other key locations across Honiara. These activities are organized to commemorate World Environment Day (WED), Coral Triangle Day, and World Ocean Day.
Speaking at the launch of the cleanup, Mr. Karl Kuper, Deputy Secretary Corporate for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), expressed his gratitude to the ECD leadership for bringing stakeholders together. He emphasized that these global observances serve as a vital opportunity for citizens to reflect on their shared responsibility to protect the environment for both current and future generations.
Mr. Kuper highlighted that environmental safeguarding is not a task for the government alone. Instead, he described it as a combined responsibility involving individuals, businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and church-based groups.
“A clean environment supports our livelihood and attracts tourism, recreation, and our cultures and traditions,” Mr. Kuper stated. He noted that the cleanup reflects a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, asserting that collective efforts—no matter the size—can result in significant positive changes for the environment when carried out across multiple locations.
A key technical component of today’s activities is the implementation of a waste audit on all materials collected. This systematic, hands-on review allows organizers to discover exactly what is being discarded, the total volume of waste, and the presence of common contaminants.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Kuper reminded all participants that the spirit of environmental stewardship should extend beyond these specific celebratory days. He urged stakeholders to ensure that cleaning and protecting the environment becomes an ongoing activity rather than one confined to special occasions.
Ends//