Officials show commitments at the launch of the national campaign to combat plastic pollution on October 12 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment launched acampaign on October 12, calling for joint efforts in plastic waste preventionnationwide, in response to the 2018 “Make the world cleaner” campaign.
At the launching ceremony held in Hanoi, Minister of Natural Resources andEnvironment Tran Hong Ha urged agencies, organisations, and entrepreneurs ofall levels to take action in the fight against plastic waste.
Pollution caused by plastic waste, especially ocean pollution, has become aglobal issue, he said, adding that reducing the use of plastic waste is anurgent task.
Businesses, supermarkets, and malls are recommended to use environmentally-friendlymaterials instead of plastic products. The minister also urged experts toenhance research on the development of bio-degradable and reusableproducts.
[Video: Hanoi young volunteers promote green habits]
Domestic agencies and international partners are advised to bolster cooperationand access on the management and treatment of plastic waste, as well as thedevelopment of new products.
In addition, the media should increase dissemination of plastic pollution risksto try and flip the switch on the popular habit of single-use plastics.
About 60 percent of plastic waste dumped into the sea around the world comesfrom six Asian countries, including Vietnam, said Kamal Malhotra, UN ResidentCoordinator in Vietnam.
The use of disposable plastics and the limited waste treatment have worsenedenvironmental contamination and community health.
Therefore, now is the time for collective actions to tackle one of the biggestglobal challenges, harnessing collaboration between the Government, businesses,and people, he noted.
He suggested the Government issue policies to halt the production and usage ofsingle-use plastics, while the private sector ought to apply new businessmodels to reduce the use of plastic waste, and the public should challengetheir widespread consumption of disposable plastic goods. –VNA
VNA
