The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment launched a campaign on October 12 2018 calling for joint efforts in plastic waste prevention nationwide, in response to the 2018 “Make the world cleaner” campaign.
The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha, United Nations Resident Coordinator UNDP Resident Representative to Viet Nam Kamal Malhotra, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women's Union Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, First Secretary of Central Committee of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Le Quoc Phong, Permanent Vice Chairman of Vietnam Farmers' Association, Vu Van Dieu, Vice President of Vietnam Veterans’ Association - Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Duoc, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly Nguyen Hoa Binh chaired the ceremony.
Attending the launching ceremony were Deputy Ministers of Natural Resources and Environment: Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, Vo Tuan Nhan, Le Cong Thanh and representatives of several embassies, representatives of international organizations, number of Central Ministries, leaders of 31 provinces, cities and leaders of units under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said that Pollution caused by plastic waste, especially ocean pollution, has become a global issue, he said, adding that reducing the use of plastic waste is an urgent task. Therefore, the "Anti-plastic waste" campaign will be carried out on a nationwide scale, with the participation of the whole society to propagate and advocate the community to prevent plastic waste released to the environment.
Businesses, supermarkets, and malls were recommended to use environmentally-friendly materials instead of plastic products. The minister also urged experts to enhance research on the development of bio-degradable and reusable products.
Participants attended the launching ceremony
Making speech at the event, United Nations Resident Coordinator UNDP Resident Representative to Viet Nam Kamal Malhotra said that “it is time to call for collective action from all of us to combat one of the great environmental challenges of our time: such collective action is needed from governments, the private sector, as well as citizens as consumers who need to take responsibility”. He committed UN will work side-by-side with the Government of Vietnam, public institutions, the private sector and communities on plastic pollution through technical assistance, policy advice and capacity building.
Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Envoy Okabe Daisuke from believed that this campaign lays a foundation to raise public attention to the importance of plastic waste reduction in Vietnam. When it comes to the household waste management, I have seen the precedent cases which illustrate that public enlightenment and implementation are the two sides of the same coin.
Chargé d’affaires Robert Bisett from the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam emphasized that plastic pollution is a pressing global issue with devastating ecological consequences, adding that 300 million tons of plastic are produced annually and one million plastic bags are used every minute around the world.
At the launching ceremony, the leaders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Central Vietnam Women's Union, the Central Committee of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union; The Vietnam Veterans’ Association, the Vietnam Elderly's Association and the participating enterprises pledged their participation in the "Anti-waste Plastic Campaign" between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Environment with representatives of socio-political organizations, associations and enterprises.
Phuong Loan