ECHO was a two days public awareness and capacity building workshop which took place in Kabul at Red Palace, Chelstoon Garden for 50 organization’s representatives and leaders, civil society representatives, environment activists and university students, on 11th and 12th February 2020. The trained cohort of workshop joined the Green Ambassadors’ community. Where they will be the ambassadors for bringing a positive change in the environment and will strive to promote environment greenery and cleaning through public awareness sessions and activities. They have been distributed in various groups with an idea, to support environmental activities. Where they publicize the knowledge and resources which they have gained in the workshop through their call to actions and local awareness campaigns designed and being run by the groups in communities.
The sessions on different environment and climate issues such as Multi-Lateral Environment Agreements, Montreal protocol, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Climate Change and Global Warming, Finance Mechanism for Climate Change and Role of CSOs in Environment were delivered by different entities and organizations such as NOU (National Ozone Unit), NEPA (National Environmental Protection Agency), Kabul Environment Protection Office, UNEP (United Nations Environment Program), Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Water and ALPHA. After delivery of sessions the participants were divided into 4 smaller groups to design and initiate ideas, campaigns and activities. Later after completion the teams presented their ideas and after event worked on implementation of generated ideas.
The main issues discussed during the workshop were as follow:
- Current obligations of Afghanistan toward environment through discussing Multi-Lateral Environmenxt Agreements
- Montreal Protocol and its advantages for Afghanistan
- Climate Change and how it can be as an opportunity for Afghanistan through discussing the global finance mechanism
- Psychological effects of environment on society and individuals
- Role of CSOs in environment and how grassroots level collaboration can contribute towards betterment of environment and society
- Youth generated ideas were presented and discussed to be implemented
Workshop Presentations and Activities:
- Opening remarks by Eng. Ezatullah Sediqi, Technical Deputy Director General of NEPA
- Guest Speaker Ms. Hanifa Girowal, Deputy Governor Kabul
- Guest Speaker Mr. Nisar Ahmad Bahawi, Environment Ambassador of Afghanistan
- Presentation on MEAs by Mr. Rahmatullah Rafee, UNEP Afghanistan
- Presentation on Ozone and the Montreal protocol by Mr. Sayed Shoaib Sadaat
- Presentation on Climate Change by Ms. Noor Bibi Gauhari, NEPA
- Presentation on Climate Change as an Opportunity for Afghanistan (Finance Mechanism), NEPA
- Presentation on Psychology and Environment by Ms. Saina Hamidi, Ministry of Women Affairs
- Presentation on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by Mr. Ezatullah Ezat, Ministry of Energy and Water
- Introduction to Labelling systems and activity with trainees on matter
- Presentation on Role of CSOs in environment by Eng. Kazim Homayoun, Head of Kabul Environment Protection Office
- Presentation on Pollution and its social impacts.
- Action phase, design canvas was introduced as framework to design ideas and discussion on specific topics continued in smaller groups
- Presentation of the generated ideas by the team’s presenters
- Closing remarks and Certificate distribution by NOU and ALPHA representatives