Thai PM backs UN campaign on “green consumption”

BANGKOK, June 6 (TNA) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has called on Thais to help conserve the environment by, for instance, reducing use of plastic bags and supporting his government’s policy on eradicating wastes, which are in line with the United Nations’ global campaign on “green consumption”. Prime Minister General Prayut made the call during his weekly address on June 5, which coincided with the World Environment Day, noting that his government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, had organised several activities marking the World Environment Day, including the “Green Card” Programme, under which holders of the cards could earn points for use in exchanging of goods which are friendly to the environment . The prime minister also asked wholesale and retail stores nationwide to encourage their customers to buy the “green goods” in order to reduce wastes and carbon dioxide emissions, the major causes of the current global warming problem or climate change, proposing that the local shopping malls and convenience stores stop supplying plastic bags for containing purchased goods for their customers every month so that people switch to use clothing bags or baskets when they go shopping. The prime minister suggested that public awareness on the environmental conservation be promoted on a sustainable basis, instead of doing it only for a certain period of time, to help ease the global warming problem. The Thai premier also recommended that wastes be separated so that they can be converted into energy, urging the public not to oppose a garbage-powered electricity plant to reduce the amount of wastes in the country. The prime minister cited Ayutthaya Province near Bangkok as an example, where a garbage site has been converted into a beautiful park and wastes have been used to produce energy. According to the Thai leader, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has been tasked with preparing a “roadmap for eradicating wastes and toxic materials”, while the Ministry of Interior has been assigned to play a key role in taking actions based on the roadmap. The Thai leader also urged manufacturers of electrical appliances and related products to take social responsibility by shouldering expenses for destroying used materials, along with designing new products which are friendly to the environment. Meanwhile, the Ayutthaya Agricultural Office cooperated with the Tambon Tanu Administrative Organisation to implement a campaigning activity, marking the World Environment Day, by persuading local agriculturists to switch to organic farming, which is safer, environmentally-friendly and help cut their production costs. Besides, local farmers were suggested to stop burning straw to reduce pollution to the earth and air. (TNA)