Join hands to solve plastic pollution

Promote awareness of "green living" and environmental protection

With the theme “End Plastic Pollution”, World Environment Day (June 5) takes place in the context of the global environment continuing to be under pressure due to pollution, climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. In particular, plastic pollution is identified as one of the urgent and global challenges today. By drawing inspiration from nature and introducing practical solutions, the campaign to stop plastic waste will encourage individuals, organizations, industries, and governments to adopt sustainable practices that promote systemic change.

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the global production of synthetic polymers - the materials that make up bulk plastics - has increased 230-fold since the 1950s. Between 2000 and 2019, this figure doubled to 460 million tons, mainly concentrated in the US, the Middle East and China. According to the OECD, without control measures, by 2060, that figure will nearly triple to 1.2 billion tons. Proportional to the sharp increase in plastic production, the volume of plastic waste globally has also more than doubled in the past 20 years, from 156 million tons (in 2000) to 353 million tons (in 2019) and is expected to increase to more than 1 billion tons by 2060.

The challenge is how to deal with this huge amount of plastic waste. According to the OECD, only 9% of the world’s plastic waste is recycled, 19% is incinerated in a controlled manner, and nearly 50% is sent to controlled landfills. About 22% of plastic waste ends up in landfills, is burned in the open, or is dumped directly into the environment, posing a major risk to human health. About 22 million tons of plastic are released into the environment each year, of which 6 million tons end up in rivers and oceans.

On the morning of June 1, in Ha Long City ( Quang Ninh Province), a rally was held to respond to World Environment Day (June 5) and launch the Environmental Action Month 2025. The event is part of the global campaign "Fighting Plastic Pollution", launched by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), with the goal of mobilizing joint action to comprehensively control the life cycle of plastic, from design, production, consumption to collection and recycling.

Sending a message to the ceremony, Ms. Inger Andersen, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Director of UNEP warned that plastic pollution is spreading at an alarming rate, threatening all ecosystems and directly affecting human health. According to UNEP, if there are no control measures, by 2040, the amount of plastic entering the environment could increase by 50%. Microplastics are present in food, water sources, air, and the human body, creating serious health and environmental risks...

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the rapidly increasing level of plastic pollution is a serious global environmental problem, with negative impacts on the environment, society, economy and human health. In 2024 alone, humans are expected to consume more than 500 million tons of plastic, of which the majority of used plastic quickly becomes 400 million tons of plastic waste. Without urgent action and necessary interventions, global plastic waste could reach around 1.2 billion tons by 2060.

Plastic waste is one of the most serious environmental challenges today, affecting the environment (soil, water and air pollution, harming marine life, spreading microplastics), human health (air pollution, inhaling or consuming microplastics; burning plastic waste incorrectly produces toxic gases that cause respiratory diseases and cancer), the economy (affecting the ecosystem, high cost of treatment)... The fight against plastic waste requires the joint efforts of all humanity. Reducing the use of disposable plastic, sorting waste at source, recycling and encouraging the use of bio-materials are practical actions. In particular, raising public awareness, especially among young people, to change consumer habits and protect our future.

This year’s World Environment Day comes exactly two months before countries meet to continue negotiations on a global treaty to end plastic pollution. The treaty is expected to provide a comprehensive legal framework covering the entire life cycle of plastic, from production, consumption to disposal, aiming to significantly reduce the amount of plastic released into the environment, protecting marine ecosystems and human health.

Up to now, An Giang has maintained the collection and treatment of nearly 80% of the volume of waste (about 938.52/1,220 tons/day). The province is implementing a project to invest in infrastructure for a domestic solid waste treatment plant and close 7 open-air landfills causing pollution. At the same time, it continues to complete the plan to implement a model of classifying domestic solid waste at the source in 2025; deploying investment in a domestic solid waste treatment plant project at the Phu Thanh Commune Waste Treatment Area (Phu Tan District) (200 tons/day)...

BROTHER

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/chung-tay-giai-quyet-o-nhiem-nhua-a422036.html