Marine plastic pollution has become a global environmental problem. Therefore, the signing of international treaties on marine environment protection is inevitable, thereby promoting close cooperation in keeping the sea and marine environment clean.
Viet Nam actively joins hands to reduce ocean plastic waste
International Convention for the Sea Preservation
The sea is a common property of mankind, requiring a close cooperation between countries to keep the sea and marine environment clean. Therefore, signing and joining international treaties in the field of marine environmental protection is inevitable
Since 1973, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution Caused by Ships (MARPOL) was born, which is a combination of two international agreements, namely the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution Caused by Ships (adopted in 1973) and the Protocol to the Convention (adopted in 1978).
The Convention entered into force in 1983 and is revised and supplemented every year. Up to now, 174 countries have joined the Convention. Viet Nam is a party to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) on March 18, 1991.
The Convention was developed before the Rio de Janero Conference recognized the various principles of International Environmental Law in 1992. With the objective of controlling, and minimizing the discharge of harmful substances to a minimum, Convention on the prevention of marine pollution by oil, regulations on the prevention of marine pollution caused by toxic liquids in bulk, regulations on the prevention of marine pollution by hazardous substances in packaging, pollution by sewage, ship waste and regulations on the prevention of air pollution from ships.
Cooperation for the sustainable development of the ocean
With our country, implementing the Doi Moi policy, currently, the demand for plastic products is very large. Statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) show that in 2018, Viet Nam generated more than 1.8 million tons of untreated plastic waste, accounting for nearly 6% of the world's plastic waste. The Mekong River flowing through Viet Nam to the sea has been ranked in the top 10 polluted rivers due to plastic waste. In terms of the amount of plastic waste entering the sea alone, Viet Nam ranked 4th in the world in 2018, at about 0.50 million tons.
Recently, Viet Nam joined Annexes I and II of the MARPOL Convention on March 18, 1991. On October 16, 2014, the State President issued a Decision approving Viet Nam's participation in Annexes III, IV, V, and VI. On May 11, 2016, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 795/QD-TTg approving the Plan to implement Annexes III, IV, V, VI of International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution Caused by Ships (MARPOL Convention).
This plan aims to fully and comprehensively implement the provisions of Annexes III, IV, V and VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution Caused by Ships (MARPOL Convention) to which Viet Nam is a member in order to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of coastal states, port states and flag states.
According to the plan, from 2016 to 2030, study mechanisms and policies for investment in building and upgrading waste receiving systems at seaports in accordance with the provisions of Annexes IV, V and VI of the MARPOL Convention. researching, deploying and applying equipment for inspection and control of waste generated from ships.
At the same time, the plan to assess the current state of environmental pollution caused by ships, the situation of waste management at Vietnam's seaports and the level of compliance with the provisions of the MARPOL Convention; study, develop and propose to establish environmental protection measures to prevent pollution caused by ships in Vietnamese waters for submission to the International Maritime Organization for approval; propagandize, disseminate, train and train relevant organizations and individuals in the implementation of the provisions of Annexes III, IV, V and VI of the MARPOL Convention.
K.Linh