Plastic pollution is one of the most serious challenges facing the environment today.
The United Nations Environment Program has chosen the theme of World Environment Day (June 5) 2025 as "Ending plastic pollution" because this is one of the most serious challenges facing the living environment today.
Strong commitment to combating plastic pollution
According to the United Nations Environment Program, the world produces about 430 million tons of plastic each year, of which more than two-thirds are single-use products that quickly become waste.
In Vietnam alone, an estimated 1.8 million tons of plastic waste are generated each year, but only about 27% of that is recycled. Most of the plastic waste is being buried or burned, wasting resources and potentially having negative impacts on the environment, ecosystems and public health.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh affirmed that no country can stand outside the fight against plastic waste. The Vietnamese Government has actively participated in proposing global and regional cooperation mechanisms on reducing plastic waste at many international conferences and forums, such as: G7 Summit, World Economic Forum on ASEAN,...
Notably, Vietnam is one of the first three countries to establish and put into operation the Working Group to implement the National Partnership for Action on Plastics. Vietnam has also demonstrated its strong commitment to participating in the negotiations of the Global Agreement on Combating Plastic Pollution to build a green economy , a circular economy and sustainable development.
Domestically, Vietnam has issued the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, documents guiding the implementation of the Law and a series of policies. Notably, the National Action Plan on Ocean Plastic Waste, which sets a goal of reducing 75% of plastic waste in the sea and ocean by 2030; 100% of tourist areas, destinations, and coastal tourist accommodation service establishments not using disposable plastic products and hard-to-decompose plastic bags; 100% of marine protected areas are free of plastic waste...
In addition, Vietnam has also issued a Project to strengthen plastic waste management; preferential policies for businesses recycling and manufacturing plastic substitute products; programs on classifying, collecting and treating household solid waste, including plastic waste; implementing recycling models, circular economy models; developing plans and organizing activities to prevent plastic waste, and the movement "say no to plastic waste."
In fact, many localities such as Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Binh Duong, Ho Chi Minh City, etc. have effectively implemented models of waste classification at source, "green markets", and urban areas without plastic waste. Enterprises have also begun to apply biological materials, recycled packaging and waste circulation models in industrial parks.
However, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh also frankly acknowledged many challenges in managing and reducing plastic waste in Vietnam such as: Laws and strategies are available, but implementation is limited; circular economy policies and extended producer responsibility are still new; waste sorting infrastructure at source is not yet synchronized; the habit of using disposable plastic is still common; collection and recycling are not yet highly effective.
Many activities spread green lifestyle to the community
Raising awareness is the 'key' to reducing plastic pollution
On the occasion of the Environmental Action Month and World Environment Day 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment launched the Campaign "Join hands to reduce plastic waste - Spread green lifestyle."
One of the key activities to be implemented this month is to organize "No Single-Use Plastic Day" at offices, schools, supermarkets, markets and in major activities and events in provinces and cities across the country; launch a movement to classify waste at source, collect and recycle plastic waste in households and organizations; replicate circular agriculture and ecological agriculture models, and limit plastic production.
Along with that are communication activities to raise awareness about the harmful effects of plastic products on the environment, ecosystem and human health; spread green lifestyle to every household; scientific research, application and transfer of waste recycling technology, production of environmentally friendly materials to replace plastic materials.
Country Director of the World Wildlife Fund in Vietnam (WWF Vietnam) Van Ngoc Thinh also called on the community to consume responsibly. Accordingly, he recommended that people reject single-use plastics - such as nylon bags, straws, plastic cups - and replace them with reusable products; reduce plastic emissions in all activities - from individual to collective, from tourism to production.
Along with that, each household needs to collect, classify and recycle plastic properly. "Every small action, such as sorting waste at source or collecting waste along the coast, contributes greatly to reducing pollution. We need to bring waste to shore, collect nets and restore the marine environment," Mr. Thinh emphasized.
Raising awareness is the “key” to changing behavior, according to Mr. Van Ngoc Thinh. Vietnam is on the right track with the 2020 Environmental Protection Law and circular economy initiatives.
Thu Cuc
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/chong-o-nhiem-nhua-lan-toa-loi-song-xanh-den-tung-ho-gia-dinh-102250605164712891.htm
Comment (0)