Hanoi (VNA) – International collaboration is essential to protect theenvironment, particularly when economic development, changes in structure ofthe society, air and plastic waste pollution are exerting pressure on Vietnam,an environmental official said.

Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) HoangVan Thuc said that the VEA will promote cooperation with the Society ofEnvironmental Toxicology and Chemistry Asia-Pacific to develop environmentalmanagement policies, and enhance capacity building in setting up a network ofexperts and scientists in environmental monitoring.

Also, they will work to improve management capacity in responding and recoveringenvironmental incidents from bauxite mining.

Vietnam will join hands with Japan in the field through concretisingcooperative programmes and projects to boost green growth and technologies tocontrol waste.

Both sides have already set up a joint committee on waste management to shareinformation, support policy building, and develop effective and sustainablesolid waste treatment in Vietnam.

Environment is among four priorities of cooperation between Vietnam and theRepublic of Korea in 2019. The East Asian country will help Vietnam to completethe Law on Environmental Protection released in 2014, and documents regulatingVietnam’s environmental standards.

Due attention will be paid to human resources training, as well as projects onclimate change and biodiversity conservation, he added.

According to the UN Environment Programme, more than 8.3 billion tonnes ofplastic has been produced worldwide since the early 1950s. About 60 percent ofthat plastic has ended up in either a landfill or the natural environment.

To date, more than 99 percent of plastics areproduced from chemicals derived from oil, natural gas and coal — all of whichare dirty, non-renewable resources. If current trends continue, by 2050 theplastic industry could account for 20% of the world’s total oil consumption.

Meanwhile, air pollution is the single biggest environmental health risk,causing roughly 7 million deaths annually. Short-lived pollutants – whichinclude black carbon, methane, ozone, and airborne particles produced byindustrial operations and the burning of diesel, coal, kerosene or biomass –are responsible for about one third of deaths from stroke, chronic respiratorydisease and lung cancer and one quarter of deaths from heart attack. Thesepollutants are also contributing to global warming, lowering labourproductivity, and increasing food insecurity around the world.-VNA