ĐÀ NẴNG — Việt Nam has strongly committed to reducing plastic waste country-wide and in the long term, working to eliminate the issue all together.

Minister of natural resources and environment, Trần Hồng Hà, was speaking during the 6th Global Environment Facility (GEF-6) Assembly in Đà Nẵng city yesterday.

Hà said the government has proposed an initiative of building regional partnerships in management of plastic waste in the Southeast Asia as well as a global mechanism in promoting positive measures of clearing waste in the ocean.

“Discharge of plastic waste into the ocean is an alarming issue. It has heavily polluted the ocean, damaged the marine ecology system and threatened food security,” Hà said.

“We highly appreciate the contribution of international partners and organisations in assisting Việt Nam deal with plastic waste pollution. Việt Nam is expecting more international support in promoting our initiatives and commitment to plastic waste reduction for a plastic-free ocean,” he said.

Director general of Việt Nam’s administration of Seas and Islands (VASI), Tạ Đình Thi, said the GEF-6 was an opportunity for the country to share experience and management skills with global partners and regional countries in the fight against plastic waste pollution on land and at sea.

 “We propose to improve human knowledge on current plastic waste pollution and badly affects of the waste in natural resources. Việt Nam needs to share experience with international organisations to enhance capacity, education, advanced technology transfer and awareness among local people and businesses,” Thi said.

“Việt Nam is listed in the world’s top 20 countries with most plastic waste in the ocean, releasing 500,000 tonnes per year. We are among six countries in the Southeast Asia region that has yet built up waste debris management,” he said.

He added that the country has witnessed the dangers of plastic pollution in the ocean, food chains and the disappearance of marine species in the future.

Plastic waste is dumped into the ocean in central Việt Nam. The country has called for international support and co-operation in dealing with plastic waste pollution in the ocean. — VNS Photo Công Thành

Director of the Centre for Environment and Community Research (CECR), under the Union of Science and Technology of Việt Nam, Nguyễn Ngọc Lý said the country discharges 19,000 tonnes of rubbish, of which 16 per cent is plastic waste, every day.

She said education on awareness hasn’t been promoted in the community, while the recognition on waste recycling and classification at home is not a big concern among people.

Lý said a few cities and provinces have successfully implemented recycling programmes.

The Chàm Island, a UNESCO-recognised world biosphere reserve site, 20km off the coast of Hội An city, was the first place in Việt Nam to ban the use of plastic bags among islanders and tourists in 2005.

The island administration forbids visitors from bringing plastic bags from the mainland, and it began starting a zero waste campaign this year.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) also started a campaign ‘Saying No’ to single-use plastic cups and straws in Lý Sơn Island, off the coast of Quảng Ngãi Province.

Different dialogue and activities on environmental issues will be discussed after the opening ceremony of the GEF-6 until it ends tomorrow. — VNS