On the morning of June 4, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment coordinated with the People's Committee of Nghe An province to organize the National Launching Ceremony of Vietnam Sea and Islands Week and the Month of Action for the Environment in response to World Oceans Day and World Environment Day 2023.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh emphasized that, like many other countries, Vietnam is facing many challenges as the issue of "white pollution" is closely related to economic development and social stability.
On the other hand, Vietnam is considered one of the most vulnerable countries and is subject to many negative impacts of climate change, environmental pollution, and rising sea levels. This poses many challenges to the implementation of poverty reduction goals, the millennium development goals, and the country's sustainable development.
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| Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh speaks. (Source: VNA) |
According to Mr. Dang Quoc Khanh, the marine economy, sea and coastal areas are becoming the driving force for national development; the infrastructure system is receiving investment attention; the material and spiritual life of coastal people is improved; scientific research, basic investigation, and development of marine human resources have achieved many positive results.
However, Vietnam’s work of protecting the environment and managing marine and island resources is still facing many difficulties and challenges. The marine environment shows signs of pollution; natural resources and biodiversity continue to decline; exploitation and use of marine and island resources are still ineffective and unsustainable.
In addition, people's awareness of resource exploitation and use is not high, and the habit of consuming disposable plastic products is also putting great pressure on environmental management and protection.
At the event, representatives of Nghe An province's leaders also emphasized that the sea and islands play an important role in providing food sources, biological resources and creating livelihoods for millions of people.
According to Ms. Ramla Khalidi - Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam, with the current development situation, especially ocean plastic waste, if countries around the world do not take any serious action, by 2050, there may be more plastic than fish in the sea.
At the launching ceremony, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh called on ministries, branches, central agencies, local authorities, organizations, individuals and businesses to join hands to take practical actions to solve the problem of plastic waste pollution, contributing to protecting the environment, seas and oceans; exploiting and sustainably using marine and island resources.
In particular, Mr. Khanh suggested some immediate solutions such as: Unifying awareness and action to respond responsibly to the sea and ocean; implementing environmental management, protection and sustainable development of seas and islands; organizations, businesses and people need to properly handle sources of marine and ocean pollution from the mainland; limiting and gradually ending the import, production and supply of non-degradable nylon bags at shopping centers and supermarkets nationwide for daily use.
Along with that, localities need to make the most of their advantages to develop tourism and marine services; promote sustainable aquaculture and seafood exploitation activities, enhance protection and regeneration of seafood resources; invest in construction and exploitation of wind power, solar power and other forms of renewable energy.
Emphasizing that sustainable use of the seas and oceans will be the “key” to building a prosperous and sustainable future for the Vietnamese people, Ms. Ramla Khalidi also recommended that Vietnam needs to increase efforts to transform towards a sustainable marine economy, focusing on accelerating marine spatial planning.
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| Delegates collect plastic waste in Nghi Thuy fishing village, Cua Lo town. (Source: VNA) |
According to Ms. Ramla Khalidi, marine spatial planning is necessary to exploit Vietnam's huge offshore wind power development potential. When realized, this planning 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.
Within the framework of the event, delegates participated in tree planting activities to beautify the landscape at Binh Minh Square; presented medicine bags and 10,000 red flags with yellow stars to fishermen in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces; and launched a campaign to collect and clean plastic waste, cleaning the beach at Nghi Thuy fishing village, Cua Lo town.
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