In the Name of Allah
The Most Merciful - The Most Compassionate
Excellencies, Distinguished Chair, Respected Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen!
I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to wish you a very good morning/afternoon.
It is my pleasure to be here today at the Twenty-Second Meeting of the Parties to the
Montreal Protocol on Ozone Depleting Substances in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand.
As you may all be aware of fact that dealing with environmental protection is a moral
duty for each and everyone of us present here today. Since the subject of protecting
the environment is a life and death issue for all living beings, and the fact that
environmental issues have became an important agenda to the world communities,
Afghanistan established in 2005, the National Environmental Protection Agency
(NEPA), as an independent agency, and a permanent member of the Council of
Ministers of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Similar to other countries, Afghanistan also has taken its duties seriously for the
protection of the Ozone Layer, and we are honored to take more responsibilities in our
capacity in this regard.
During the last thirty years of war and civil unrest, Afghanistan had almost lost all of
its infrastructures, as well as, administrative and academic systems. Therefore, despite
the security & natural environmental crises, the low level of social awareness, no or
limited access to technology & financial support in the field of the environment are
huge challenges, which we have had to face up to, & copping with such challenges in
order to overcome them in the best possible way. It is a very daunting task, to say the least.
The mentioned environmental concerns are not the only challenges which we are
facing on a daily basis. We are actually suffering from the environment physically.
In Kabul City, the capital of Afghanistan, according to reliable data, over three
thousand innocent children are dying every year, caused by terrible, man-made, air
pollution alone. There are other factors too, which are beyond the scope of this brief
speech. On the other hand, around 85% of the country's population is directly or
indirectly depended upon the natural resources.
Distinguished Delegates!
In order to address all of those issues which were mentioned above, the Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan has come-up to find possible solutions.
The followings are some of the happened major activities:
- Establishment of the National Environmental Protection Agency
- New Environment Law ratification with several related regulations, as well as,
the protection of the Ozone Layer regulation
- Signatory and ratification of several International Environmental Conventions,
and further process in this regard, is currently going
through the proper
diplomatic channels
- Based on the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol, we have established
the National Ozone Unit, which has conducted much needed and excellent
trainings with regards to the Ozone Layer protection and ODS in country level
for different sectors, distributed equipments and information packages, which
made a very good positive impact on the national level
- Establishment of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
Achieving the above mentioned successes were not easy, and it was impossible
without the assistance of the International Community, specially the United Nations
Agencies and its Specialized Organs. I would like to thank all for the assistance given
with regards to the protection of the environment in Afghanistan, specifically,
addressing the Ozone related affairs. Of course, whenever we are talking about the
environment in Afghanistan, UNEP is always there. My very special heartfelt thanks
go to UNEP for and thier Complaince Assisstance Programe and their continuous
support and kind assistance to Afghanistan in the field of the environment for over
eight years in order to make our lives the quality of the lives of our children their
children's children a better one, filled with hope by taking their civic duties seriously
and responsibly.
We are just the custodians of the environment and pass it on to the next generation in
the most pristine condition as humanly possible.
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates!
Since, environmental issues do not understand political, administrative borders, for
that reason Afghanistan still needs to be supported in many different fields,
specifically, in the field of environmental protection, rehabilitation and conservation.
This support could be in the following fields:
- Social awareness and capacity development
- Sharing information and exchanges of related data
- Technology transfers, especially in regard to HCFC Phase-out
-
Development of research and academic centers in environmental conservation
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen!
In closing, please allow me to thank you all for your kind attention and in having the
patience for listening to me. Once again, I would like to deeply thank UNEP for
kindly facilitating my participation in this very important event, as well as, the host
country, the proud Kingdom of Thailand, and all of the organizers, who have made the
Twenty-Second Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Ozone Deleting
Substances (ODS) a success.
Thank you
Eng. Najibullah Yamin
Deputy Director-General (Technical and Scientific Affairs)
National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA)
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
najib.yamin1@gmail.com, n.yamin@nepa.gov.af, 0093 (0) 797 952 875