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A Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mrs Cindy Baidoo has highlighted the need to increase awareness on the effect of climate change and minimisation of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Speaking at a durbar organised by Zoomlion Ghana Limited to climax the celebration of World Environment Day 2014, she indicated that environmental degradation puts our future at risk. World Environmental Day, which is celebrated on June 5 every calendar year, was initiated by the United Nations to promote worldwide awareness and action for environmental protection. Mrs Cindy Baidoo noted that even though the day was celebrated globally under the theme �Small Islands Development States (SIDS): Raise your voice, not the sea,� Ghana�s theme has been narrowed to �Greening our Environment to Save Ghana: Raise your voice, Grow a tree to green our environment.� She said this year�s event was marked with the planting of over 2,000 trees to minimise carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The trees, which were planted on a 50-acre land acquired by the EPA at Danfa in the La Nkwantanang Municipality, titled the Green City Complex, was to lessen the effect of climate change and also intensify public knowledge in protecting the environment. She called on Ghanaians to desilt gutters and stop indiscriminate disposal of waste, especially in the wake of the rains currently being witnessed in the country. This, she opined, will help avoid flooding. The acting Managing Director of Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, Mr Emmanuel Okyere Okomeng, encouraged parents to inculcate in children the habit of keeping the environment safe. Citing the recent floods witnessed in some parts of Accra as a resultant effect of global warming, he mentioned the need to take on environmental protection as a responsibility to society. Mr Okomeng intimated that it is the responsibility of all individuals to maintain high standards of sanitation, advocating behavioural change as a means to mitigate environmental challenges. The Adentan Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Veronica P. Adzato Ntem, who chaired the occasion, said it was imperative to educate children on keeping safe environments. She stated that environmental sanitation is key to improving the health of the nation, and encouraged the students to always ensure clean, safe and healthy environments. The Zoomkids club is a student wing of Zoomlion Ghana Ltd dedicated to bringing students together to foster positive action on environmental protection. Five schools � Danfa Methodist Basic School, Baba Yara JHS, Pentecost Schools, Sowa Dinn Basic School and Oyibi Basic School � participated in the event. The students demonstrated their commitment to environmental protection through poetry recitals and sketches.