Action against ocean plastic waste

Studies show that plastic waste in the ocean originates from land, is carried away by urban flows, due to sewer overflows, littering, waste from industrial and construction activities... Plastic pollution in the ocean also originates from the fishing industry, maritime activities and aquaculture. Southeast Asian countries have been identified as significant contributors to the leakage of plastic waste from land into the ocean, therefore, promoting cooperation between ASEAN and the East Sea region becomes urgent, countries need to make joint efforts in combating plastic pollution and building and unifying a roadmap towards a sustainable future. Coastal countries in the region need to make more efforts to address urgent issues, including marine pollution and ocean plastic waste, towards a safer living environment as well as making an important contribution to the conservation of nature and marine biodiversity.

Plastic waste seriously threatens the ocean

To this end, at the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, the governments of the 10 ASEAN Member States signed the Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris in Asia, in which the 10 ASEAN Member States pledged to “strengthen national and cooperative actions to prevent and significantly reduce marine debris.” The ASEAN Declaration outlines a wide-ranging set of ideas, but will depend on the level of implementation by each country. Accordingly, ASEAN will “further strengthen national laws and regulations as well as enhance regional and international cooperation, including policy dialogue and information sharing.”

In order to provide a common strategy focused on solutions to the problem of marine plastic waste, in 2021, ASEAN issued the Action Plan on Marine Debris 2021 - 2025. The plan with 14 regional actions based on 4 pillars including policy support and planning; research, innovation and capacity building; awareness, education and outreach; and private sector engagement. The Action Plan represents an important milestone for ASEAN, demonstrating a new, stronger collective commitment through regional actions, in line with national agendas, to address this serious environmental challenge.

At the ASEAN Conference on Plastic Pollution (ACCPP): Strengthening Collaborative Action and Coordination to Combat Plastic Pollution, one of the challenges in addressing plastic pollution in the ASEAN region was discussed as the lack of data. Accordingly, countries need to look at plastic pollution not only through an environmental lens but also through legal and economic perspectives, addressing the issue throughout the entire life cycle of plastics, instead of just considering it as a waste management issue.

As an active member of ASEAN, Vietnam has pioneered the implementation of many strong action programs to address the problem of plastic waste pollution by issuing tax and credit policies to support the application of clean technologies and the application of clean technologies, less waste, less consumption of raw materials and energy; encouraging the economical use of resources and energy; producing and using clean energy, renewable energy, products and product packaging that do not cause harm or cause little harm to the environment; recycling and using recycled products...

Vietnam's international commitments have been specified in directive documents and the system of policies and laws in recent times, typically: Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW dated October 22, 2018 of the Central Executive Committee on the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Vietnam's Marine Economy set the goal that by 2030, Vietnam will become a "pioneer in the region in reducing ocean plastic waste"; Decision No. 1746/QD-TTg dated December 4, 2019 of the Prime Minister on the National Action Plan on Ocean Plastic Waste Management set the requirement to "Effectively implement Vietnam's initiatives and commitments to the international community on addressing plastic waste issues, focusing on ocean plastic waste"... At the national level, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for coordinating solid waste management in general and plastic waste management in particular. At the local level, in the areas under their jurisdiction, the Provincial/Municipal People's Committee plays a central role in waste management and enforcement of waste-related regulations.

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