UNESCO launches programme seeking innovative ideas for ocean without plastic in Vietnam
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in cooperation with the Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve officially launched in Hanoi on July 14 a call for Youth Innovative Ideas for an Ocean without Plastic.
Hanoi (VNA) – The United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in cooperation with the Cu LaoCham - Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve officially launched in Hanoi on July 14 acall for Youth Innovative Ideas for an Ocean without Plastic.
The programme, within the framework of the Youth andInnovation 4 Ocean Initiative implemented by UNESCO in partnership with theCoca Cola Foundation, aims to promote the key role of youth in the sustainabledevelopment of Vietnam.
About 8 million metric tonnes of plastic are discardedinto the ocean annually with a significant amount originating in Asia,including Vietnam, UNESCO said. At this rate, by 2050, the ocean is on track tocontain more plastic than fish.
It is with this in mind that UNESCO is launching theYouth Innovative Ideas for an Ocean without Plastic Programme to providetraining and mentoring to groups of youth and young professionals to empowerthem to use their creative energy and talent to develop solutions in the areasof collecting, sorting, treating, recycling and reusing of plastic waste.
Through the programme, young people will have theopportunity to propose ideas, receive trainings by experts, acquire on-fieldimplementation experience and receive financial and technical support toimplement their initiatives at the Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An World BiosphereReserve, as well as to participate in other related national and regionalinitiatives of the Organisation.
Awards include three first prizes valued at 70 millionVND (about 3,000 USD) which will support the implementation of ideas, and threerunner-up prizes valued at 10 million VND.
The programme will engage youth and youngprofessionals aged between 18-30 across Vietnam. Candidates can be formed ingroups of up to five people, and gender equality will be a key consideration.
Application forms and ideas should be submitted viathe link //bit.ly/38IKe5sbefore 25 August 2020.
The results of the competition will be announced inmid-September 2020, and the Mentoring Programme at the Cu Lao Cham - Hoi AnWorld Biosphere Reserve is foreseen for the end of September 2020 with thefinal round to be held in Hanoi in November 2020.
The Youth Innovative Ideas for an Ocean withoutPlastic Programme is under the framework of the Youth and Innovation for OceanInitiative carried out by UNESCO, in partnership with Coca Cola Foundation.
It links to the Organisation’s Regional PlasticInitiative, which aims to support innovative and practical solutionscontributing to build a circular economy and towards the sustainabledevelopment of the ocean./.
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A landfill in Cu Lao Cham (Photo: UNESCO) 
