Vietnam-WEF partnership helps reduce plastic waste (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha onFebruary 23 had a working session with Joo-Ok Lee, Head of the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Regional Agenda – Asia Pacific,to discuss cooperation in coping with plastic waste and developing the circular economy.
Lee thanked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) for backing activities of the Vietnam National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) implemented by the WEF in recenttimes, and expressed his hope to continue receiving its support in the coming time. Healso shared information related to plans of the NPAP in the future.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha (R) and Joo-Ok Lee, Head of the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Regional Agenda – Asia Pacific (Photo: baotainguyenmoitruong.vn) The official revealed that, in 2022, the WEF willhost major conferences which are expected to attract the participation of politicalleaders, entrepreneurs and academic researchers around the world, to outline agendasat the regional and global levels. Hehoped that Vietnam would attend and share cooperation models and initiatives onreducing plastic waste, and developing the circular economy.
Forhis part, Ha spoke highly of the WEF’s support for theMoNRE in recent times, especially in the fight against plastic waste anddeveloping the circular economy through various activities of the NPAP.
Launched in December 2020, the NPAP has greatlycontributed to communication activities on plastic waste in the Southeast Asiannation, helping raise public awareness of the use of plastic bags and other single-use plastic products.
The programme has also called for the involvement of manyinternational organisations and businesses in supporting the implementation ofprojects and plans of the MoNRE in managing and reducing plastic waste.
It has also provided technical experts to help make adjustmentsand supplements to regulations on circular economy development in a decree detailing a number of articlesof the Law on Environmental Protection, and build a national action plan on circulareconomy development.
Ha expressed his hope that the partnership programmewill continue to promote connection among public, private, and societal stakeholders ina common approach in order to tackle plastic waste and plastic pollution, andhelp Vietnam’s plastic industry with transition to a sustainable circular economymodel.
He suggestedthe WEF further foster cooperation withVietnam to address plastic waste, including marine plastic waste, by supporting the country to implement its approved national action plan.
The two sidesshould also continue their coordination in investigating andassessing arising issues in this regard, and in collecting, recycling and treating plasticwaste; organise policy dialogues and conferences to map out relevant strategiesand plans; and promote investment and mobilise resources to support theeffective implementation of plastic waste management and treatment, andmicroplastic management in producing commodities, and accelerate circular economy developmentin Vietnam, he said./.
