Hanoi (VNA) 💝- Vietnam and many countries around the world are facing many challenges as “white pollution” is closely related to economic development and social stability. And if no serious action is taken, by 2050 there could be more plastic than fish in the sea.

The information was shared at a ceremony to launch the National Action Month for the Environment and the Vietnam Seas and Islands Week in response to World Environment Day and World Oceans Day, held in the central province of Nghe An on June 4.

Maritime environment facing a lot of challenges

Speaking at the event, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh said that Vietnam is considered one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, environmental pollution, and sea level rise. This poses many challenges to the implementation of the country’s poverty reduction, millennium development and sustainable development goals, requiring it to have prompt and practical solutions. He noted that Vietnam's protection and management of marine and island environment and resources is still facing many difficulties and challenges. The marine environment shows signs of being polluted, natural resources and biodiversity continue to decline, and the exploitation and use of marine and island resources remains inefficient and unsustainable. In addition, people's awareness about the exploitation and use of resources is limited, and their habit of using single-use plastic products is also putting great pressure on the management and protection of the environment, he added. Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, stressed that there may be more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050 if no serious action is taken. This huge amount of leakage will lead to serious consequences for not only delicate marine ecosystems, but also the wellbeing and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Actions that need to be taken immediately

Minister Khanh called on ministries, sectors, mass organisations, and local authorities, organisations, individuals and businesses to join hands to take practical actions to solve plastic waste pollution, contributing to the protection of the environment, seas and oceans, and the sustainable exploitation and use of marine and island resources. He suggested some measures that need to be done immediately, including strengthening unity in awareness and action to behave responsibly towards seas and oceans; bettering the management, environmental protection and sustainable development of seas and islands and effectively carrying out appropriate strategies and policies to limit ocean plastic waste and conserve biodiversity, and restore marine ecosystems; promote responsible aquaculture and fishing in offshore waters. Organisations, businesses and people need to well handle pollution sources from the mainland; limit and strive to stop the import, production and supply of single-use nylon bags at commercial centres and supermarkets across the country. Ramla Khalidi also stressed that sustainable use of oceans will be key to building a prosperous and sustainable future for the Vietnamese people. According to her, Vietnam should strengthen its efforts to shift towards a sustainable ocean economy; partly through accelerating marine spatial planning. The Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in place is essential for unlocking the tremendous potential of offshore wind power development for Vietnam, which when realised can contribute to meeting the ambitious energy targets in the Power Development Plan 8 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050 as committed at COP26. Vietnam needs to scale up its excellent work on strengthening the resilience of its vulnerable coastal communities. As Chair of the ASEAN Disaster Management Committee, the country is in a position to showcase its good work on mangrove reforestation, storm-resilient housing, anticipatory actions, and community-based disaster risk reduction. All stakeholders including the Government, the private sector, communities, households, and individuals should make commitments and take action, she added./.