The Kuwaiti Society for Environmental Protection considered the visit of the team of the 14th season of its educational awareness program “Green Schools” to the College of Social Sciences at Kuwait University to be part of promoting environmental awareness and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, announcing that the visit was in response to an invitation from the Social and Cultural Committee of the Psychology Department at the college, to present a lecture entitled “Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)”.
In this regard, Janan Behzad, Secretary-General of the Association, stated that “the lecture addressed the importance of implementing the 12th Sustainable Development Goal, which focuses on achieving sustainable consumption and production, and aims to reduce waste and excessive exploitation of natural resources, and promote lifestyles that support environmental sustainability,” praising in this context the invitation of Dr. Saud Al-Ghanim, Department of Psychology at the College, to the Association’s Green Schools Program team to deliver the lecture.
Behzad explained that the “Green Schools” program seeks to achieve several key objectives, most notably “spreading environmental awareness among students, teachers and the school community, promoting environmental education through interactive activities and scientific lectures, in addition to enabling schools to implement environmentally friendly practices such as rationalizing resource consumption and recycling, as well as encouraging students to take the initiative and participate in protecting the environment through practical projects and activities, and promoting social responsibility with regard to environmental issues and sustainable development.”.
During her lecture, the Secretary-General of the Environmental Protection Association pointed out that “reducing waste and garbage is one of the fundamental pillars for achieving sustainable development, especially with regard to Sustainable Development Goal 12 (responsible consumption and production). This goal seeks to encourage societies to adopt consumption and production practices that preserve natural resources and reduce pollution and waste.”.
She linked Sustainable Development Goal 12, responsible consumption and production, to its environmental impacts, saying: “The importance of reducing waste lies in its role in protecting the environment from the negative impacts of overproduction and irresponsible consumption, such as climate change and resource depletion, through recycling, improving resource efficiency, and encouraging clean production. We can ensure a sustainable environmental future for future generations.”.
Janan Behzad concluded her lecture at the College of Social Sciences at Kuwait University by pointing to the importance of raising awareness among all segments of society, stressing that “awareness plays a pivotal role in the implementation of the Environmental Protection Law, as it contributes to spreading knowledge about the importance of preserving the environment and the impact of individual and collective behaviors on the ecosystem.” She noted that “the psychological aspect is no less important in this field, as changing environmental habits and practices requires a deep understanding of the psychological factors that motivate individuals and societies to adopt environmentally friendly behaviors. When awareness is directed in a way that enhances the sense of individual and collective responsibility, awareness of environmental values increases, and psychological understanding contributes to strengthening the internal motivation to comply with environmental laws, thus achieving a greater impact in the effective and sustainable implementation of the Environmental Protection Law.”.
