Development Partners in Viet Nam to join forces combating plastic pollution
On 4 June 2018, dozens of embassies in Viet Nam and international organizations signed a Code of Conduct on Combating Plastic Pollution to mark the World Environment Day (June 5). Vice Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh and Vice Chairman of Ha Noi People’s Committee Mr. Nguyen The Hung attended and witnessed the signing.
The event was initiated by the Embassy of Canada with aims to raise awareness on the negative impacts of plastic pollution while advocating changes at the behavioural, institutional and policy levels to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated in Viet Nam. The signatories include Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America as well as 16 UN agencies, funds, programmes, offices and World Bank.
Through the Code of Conduct to assessing their current office practices related to single-use plastic and instituting operational changes to minimise their plastic waste footprint. The signatories agreed to engage their staff in reducing plastic waste and encourage their partners to adopt low- or no-plastic waste-emitting options. The Code of Conduct also aims to to act as change agents in reducing plastic pollution and raising awareness about its negative effects on humans, animals and the environment.
Ping Kitnikone, ambassador of Canada to Việt Nam, said “as international partners, they had the privilege to work in Việt Nam and had a collective responsibility to reduce their plastic footprint in the beautiful country and preserve its environment for future generations”.
Vice Minister Le Cong Thanh said Viet Nam appreciated the actions of the international partners to join the country in combating plastic pollution. He noted that “this is why subjects of the World Environment Day 2018 and the World Ocean Day 2018 are all related to the issue of plastic pollution” and “ this is a small action with great meaning, contributing to protect the environment and the beauty of Viet Nam”. Presently, MONRE is proposing the Government to synchronously implement various solutions to address plastic pollution, focusing on policy making, cooperation and coordination mechanisms development, communication and guidance. After the signing ceremony, all participants joined in a round table discussion session where all challenges, solutions and measures relating to plastic pollution were shared and proposed.
