Xamneua district, the capital of Huaphan province, won an Asean ESC Award for 2021 for its good air quality and environmentally-friendly development.
Kaysone Phomvihane city, the capital of Savannakhet province, was awarded an Environmentally Sustainable Cities Certificate of Recognition for 2021 after it implemented a prototype urban plan in line with the Asean environmental sustainable development model.
The awards were presented at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane last week by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mrs Bounkham Vorachit, to authorities from Huaphan and Savannakhet provinces.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director General of the ministry’s Environment Department, Mr Ounheuang Xayachack, said Laos submitted Luang Prabang, Xamneua and Kaysone Phomvihane cities as award candidates to the Asean Working Group on Environmentally Sustainable Cities on July 5.
Xamneua district received the ESC Award because of its healthy environment and compliance with the conditions and indicators of the Asean Sustainable Development Goals Frontrunner Cities Programme.
Kaysone Phomvihane city received the ESC Certificate of Recognition after applying the Asean ESC Model Cities Programme, but because there are no awards given for use of this programme it was decided to award the Environmentally Sustainable Cities Certificate of Recognition.
Asean initiated the Asean Environmentally Sustainable City Award programme to stimulate, benchmark, and recognise exemplary efforts on environmental sustainability.
The award aims to make cities environmentally sustainable by sharing best indigenous practices to keep cities clean, green, and liveable.
According to vientianetimes.org.la
