Vientiane (VNA) – Along with improving public awareness of environmental protection, Laos has included waste treatment to its national socio-economic development plan in the 2021-2025 period, aiming to turn itself into a green, clean and beautiful country.
According to Laos’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, natural problems in the country such as wildfire, waste and plastic waste have directly effecting the environment and people’s health.
Since the beginning of the year, the Southeast Asian country has been severely affected by environmental pollution, especially fine dust pollution (PM 2.5) caused by forest fires.
Alongside, emissions from factories, vehicles and indiscriminate burning of garbage, especially plastic waste, have directly impacted the health and life of locals.
Lao Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bounkham Vorachith emphasised that plastic waste is becoming one of the major challenges for Laos. The misuse of plastic products that are difficult to decompose and littering have left serious consequences for the environment and human health.
Statistics showed that Laos spent about 200 million USD on importing plastic products last year. Each day, its capital city of Vientiane releases 500-600 tonnes of domestic waste to the environment, of which only 50-60% is treated./.
Laos promotes digital economy development
Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith has appointed 22 senior government officials as members of a National Committee on Digital Transformation, in a bid to spur Laos’s social and economic development, Vientiane Times reported.
