Going green is our duty: HRH

HER Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah at the closing of the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) Workshop last night called for individuals to take the initiative and make changes in their daily lives in order to help save the environment.

"We all have a duty to secure a better future for the next generation," she said.

"It can start with something as simple as planting a tree, flowers or plants in our gardens and using less paper at school or work, or we can reduce the use of plastics bags, whilst also recycling our waste products and conserving energy and water in our homes and workplaces.

"But above all, we need to lead by example and impart upon our children the importance of preserving our environment and its biodiversity, whether it be tropical rainforests, coral reefs or just the plants and creatures in our gardens and surroundings," said HRH Princess Sarah.

"Every one of us has a role to play, not just in the future but right now, to stop global warming and to decelerate climate change. I firmly believe in the ability of individuals to make a difference and your presence here is a testament to this ability," she said.

HRH went on to say that higher learning institutes played a crucial role in scientific research and knowledge sharing. "Education should be at the forefront of our efforts to increase awareness and promote interest in learning about climate change and the preservation of the natural environment," she said.

"Higher learning institutes like universities have a crucial role and responsibility in not only educating our youths, but also in terms of scientific research and knowledge sharing that will assist nations and their leaders in making well-informed decisions on climate change," she added.

The workshop, entitled "Towards understanding the impact of global climate change on biodiversity and tropical rainforest", was attended by 44 undergraduate students from Asia and Europe, who were given the opportunity to listen to a series of lectures by invited experts in biodiversity studies and climate change and the opportunity to work in Brunei's tropical rainforests.

HRH Princess Sarah commented in her speech that the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Center has attracted the interest of top scholars and students from around the globe to conduct research on biodiversity and rainforests.

"This workshop exemplifies this interest by bringing together young scientists from Asia and Europe to our nation, to learn more on climate change and to gain a deeper understanding of its impact on our planet and to crucial challenges it poses to the world's leaders," she said.

HRH Princess Sarah praised the passion and concern shown by the participants towards the well being of the natural environment, which she said has allowed for the sharing of knowledge and experience among participants in the workshop. The Brunei Times