Hai Phong (VNA) – A national drive in response to the “Clean up the world”campaign 2019 was launched in Do Son district in the northern port city of HaiPhong on September 12.

The event wasjointly organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, theCentral Committee of the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) and the People’s Committeeof Hai Phong city.

Speaking at the ceremony,Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan pointed outcurrent environmental challenges, including a huge amount of plastic waste and nylonbags. Some 500 billion plastic bottles and over 500 billion nylon bags are usedevery year, he said.

As a developing nation,Vietnam is facing various difficulties such as environmental pollution, climatechange, sea level rise and especially plastic waste, ranking 17th out of 109countries with the highest level of plastic pollution in the world, Nhanstressed.

The DeputyMinister called for concerted efforts of all sectors, localities and people toreduce the use of disposable plastic products, towards the non-use of thoseproducts in the country in 2025.

VWU VicePresident Nguyen Thi Tuyet underlined women’s role in all stages of plasticwaste management. She urged VWU members nationwide to encourage others toswitch from nylon bags and disposable plastic products to otherenvironmentally-friendly and recyclable ones.

Meanwhile, ViceChairman of the municipal People’s Committee of Hai Phong Le Khac Nam said HaiPhong always pays attention to green economic development in line with sustainableenvironmental protection as the city has prioritised high-tech investmentprojects./.