UNESCO programme calls for youth initiatives for plastic-free oceans
UNESCO and The Coca Cola Foundation launched a project themed “Youth Initiative Ideas for an Ocean without Plastic 2022” at a ceremony in Hanoi on August 10 in response to World Youth Day (August 12).
Members of Nam Dinh province’s youth union and officials from the Xuan Thuy National Park pick up trash on the beach in Giao Hai commune, Giao Thuy district. (Illustrative photo - Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - UNESCO and The Coca Cola Foundation launched a project themed “Youth Initiative Ideas for an Ocean without Plastic 2022” at a ceremony in Hanoi on August 10 in response to World Youth Day (August 12).
The project is being implemented within the framework of the “Youth and Innovation for Ocean” project launched in 2020. Lasting from August this year to July 2023, it aims to support and empower young people as key change makers for the sustainable future of the seas.
It encourages young people to develop creative ideas, solutions with high practical application, and apply science and technology focusing on the fields of collection, classification, reduction, treatment, recycling, and reuse of plastic waste, especially single-use plastics.
Winning ideas and solutions are expected to be piloted in the Cat Ba Archipelago World Biosphere Reserve in Hai Phong from June 2023 with a possibility to be replicated throughout the northern port city.
Groups of Vietnamese youngsters aged 18-35 are eligible to participate in the project.
Speaking at the ceremony, UNESCO representative in Vietnam Christian Manhart said UNESCO recognises the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to prevent, control, and respond to challenges from ocean pollution through a series of legal provisions, including the 2020 revised law on environmental protection and the strategy for sustainable development of the maritime economy.
He highlighted the need for these regulations to be quickly implemented. We have about 30 years to save the oceans, he said, citing a warning from a recent report by the UN Environment Programme.
The official affirmed Vietnamese youths are ambassadors for change in the nation’s future. More than 100 young people from 27 universities across Vietnam are joining hands to develop 25 related creative ideas and approximately 1 million people are participating in different youth-led marine protection activities run by UNESCO./.
Appropriate policies and regulations are needed to help fully exploit the untapped potential in developing the maritime economy, which plays an essential role in the socio-economic development of Vietnam, according to insiders.
Vietnamese representatives reaffirmed their country’s commitments to develop blue and sustainable oceans when attending the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in Lisbon from June 27 to July 1.
The press award on reducing plastic pollution in the ocean was launched in Hanoi on July 20, along with a photo contest themed white pollution and its effects on marine ecosystems.
Vietnam has joined international efforts in response to ocean issues with the launch of specific measures to carry out SDG 14. Of note, efforts to realize net-zero emissions commitment made by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at COP26 have been actively rolled out.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Members of Nam Dinh province’s youth union and officials from the Xuan Thuy National Park pick up trash on the beach in Giao Hai commune, Giao Thuy district. (Illustrative photo - Source: VNA) 
