• Through this initiative, the Ministry hopes to generate a movement for change that will inspire all citizens to actively participate in protecting the environment.
Panama City, September 18, 2024In an effort to address the climate crisis and promote awareness across all sectors of society, the Ministry of Environment launched the “Climate Ambassadors” initiative. This initiative brings together prominent public figures, including renowned artist Olga Sinclair and talented athlete Hilary Heron, who, from their respective areas of work, art and sports, will seek to contribute to raising awareness and action on climate change.
The purpose of “Climate Ambassadors” is to inspire all citizens to become agents of change in the face of the climate emergency. The initiative calls on influential personalities from the aforementioned sectors to learn and promote sustainable practices together with their audience.
For the National Director of Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment, Juan Carlos Monterrey, “it is evident that the traditional format is not yielding the expected results. We want to change the paradigm, permeate all sectors and act jointly to ensure a sustainable future for future generations.”
He added that Panama is not immune to the impacts of climate change, and the urgency to act is increasingly evident. “That is the importance of this initiative, which seeks to mobilize the population towards concrete actions that mitigate these effects and promote adaptation to the already inevitable changes,” he said.
Olga Sinclair will use her influence in the art world to raise awareness about the effects of climate change on cultural and artistic heritage, inspiring others to adopt sustainable practices. The artist said that art creates solutions that raise awareness and provide a way to free herself from the anguish she feels when seeing rivers full of garbage. She also recalls how, 17 years ago, she decided not to give private workshops for children, but to paint with 5,000 children in a park, an initiative she managed to achieve together with the then mayor and current Minister of the Environment, Juan Carlos Navarro.
Heron, as a representative of the sports sector, highlights how climate change affects outdoor sports and will promote the adoption of sustainable practices among her fans and the sports community. The Olympic gymnast said that “If there is no healthy ecosystem, the future as humans is not going to be very good”which reinforces the need to take care of the planet. He explains that some sports, such as cycling and athletics, are already being directly affected by extreme weather events, such as heavy rains and heat waves, situations that put the health of athletes at risk.
MiAMBIENTE will provide ongoing guidance and support to the ambassadors throughout the duration of the initiative. Through specialized workshops, briefings and technical advice, professionals from the Climate Change Directorate will work to ensure that these representatives acquire the necessary knowledge to convey key messages on sustainability and climate action.
In addition, the entity will work closely with them to develop effective strategies that generate a significant impact in their respective areas of influence, thus ensuring that the initiative meets its objectives effectively and sustainably.
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