Marine environment is well protected in the sea off the Cham Island in Hoi An city. Plastic bags and waste release in the ocean was banned in 2005. (Photo coutersy of Le Xuan Ai) Da Nang (VNS/VNA) - Vietnam hasstrongly committed to reducing plastic waste country-wide and in the long term,working to eliminate the issue all together.
Minister of Natural Resources and EnvironmentTran Hong Ha was speaking during the 6th Global Environment Facility (GEF-6)Assembly in Da Nang city on June 26.
Ha said the government has proposed aninitiative of building regional partnerships in management of plastic waste inthe Southeast Asia as well as a global mechanism in promoting positive measuresof clearing waste in the ocean.
“Discharge of plastic waste into the oceanis an alarming issue. It has heavily polluted the ocean, damaged the marineecology system and threatened food security,” Ha said.
“We highly appreciate the contribution ofinternational partners and organisations in assisting Vietnam deal with plasticwaste pollution. Vietnam is expecting more international support in promotingour initiatives and commitment to plastic waste reduction for a plastic-freeocean,” he said.
Director General of Vietnam’sadministration of Seas and Islands (VASI) Ta Dinh Thi said the GEF-6 was anopportunity for the country to share experience and management skills withglobal partners and regional countries in the fight against plastic wastepollution on land and at sea.
“Wepropose to improve human knowledge on current plastic waste pollution and badlyaffects of the waste in natural resources. Vietnam needs to share experiencewith international organisations to enhance capacity, education, advancedtechnology transfer and awareness among local people and businesses,” Thi said.
“Vietnam is listed in the world’s top 20countries with most plastic waste in the ocean, releasing 500,000 tonnes peryear. We are among six countries in the Southeast Asia region that has yetbuilt up waste debris management,” he said.
He added that the country has witnessed thedangers of plastic pollution in the ocean, food chains and the disappearance ofmarine species in the future.
Director of the Centre for Environment andCommunity Research (CECR) under the Union of Science and Technology of Vietnam NguyenNgoc Ly said the country discharges 19,000 tonnes of rubbish, of which 16 percentis plastic waste, every day.
She said education on awareness hasn’t beenpromoted in the community, while the recognition on waste recycling andclassification at home is not a big concern among people.
Ly said a few cities and provinces havesuccessfully implemented recycling programmes.
The Cham Island, a UNESCO-recognised worldbiosphere reserve site, 20km off the coast of Hoi An city, was the first placein Vietnam to ban the use of plastic bags among islanders and tourists in 2005.
The island administration forbids visitorsfrom bringing plastic bags from the mainland, and it began starting a zerowaste campaign this year.
The International Union for Conservation ofNature (IUCN) also started a campaign ‘Saying No’ to single-use plastic cupsand straws in Ly Son Island, off the coast of Quang Ngai province.
Different dialogue and activities onenvironmental issues will be discussed after the opening ceremony of the GEF-6until it ends on June 28.-VNA
VNA
