The Ministry of Environment, with the support of the Swedish government and UN Development Programme (UNDP), has produced handbooks on the environment for children to help reduce single-use plastics and maintain a sustainable environment.

Ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra told The Post on Sunday that the main focus of the handbooks is to inculcate a sense of responsibility for the environment in primary school children. The books contain stories related to environmental education.

The handbooks were prepared by the education section of the ministry’s General Department of Environmental Knowledge and Information.

“The importance of this book is to provide knowledge of the environment for children. The book also instils in them a love for the environment. Hopefully, this will change their behaviour and orient them to love the environment and join in protecting and conserving existing natural resources,” he said.

The environment ministry received 2,000 handbooks from the UNDP which will be distributed to schools in the Kingdom.

UNDP Cambodia’s resident representative Nick Beresford didn’t respond to a request for comment as of press time.

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport spokesperson Ros Soveacha welcomed positive cooperation in all forms to raise the awareness of students and education staff.

The aim of the handbooks, he said, is to reduce plastic usage and maintain school environments that contribute to ensuring environmental sustainability.

The environment and education ministries have also incorporated content concerning the impact of plastic and general environmental work into the curriculum. Relevant content has been made available for children in pre-school levels.

The education ministry has been implementing study programmes on the environment and encouraging students of all levels to love, preserve and protect school environments and communities.