Date:           Tuesday, 04 June 2019
Event:         Photography exhibition – Save Our Seas
Venue:        29 Hang Bai Street, Hanoi

Her Excellency, Ms. Elsbeth Akkerman, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Netherlands to Viet Nam

Mr. Nguyen Viet Dung, Director of Communication Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am very delighted to be at this first ever photography exhibition on Marine Plastics titled “Save our Seas”. This is very timely and important as tomorrow we will be celebrating the World Environment Day and World Oceans Day on 8 June.

In connection with the United Nations global initiative to #BeatPlasticPollution, and through the  joint organization of this event with photographer Mr. Nguyen Viet  Hung, also known as Lekima Hung,  UNDP would like to use this occasion as a wakeup call to everyone, from citizens, businesses, and authorities, that urgent practical actions must be taken to fight against pollution in our oceans – a defining challenge of our time! - so we can preserve our oceans for future generations)

I would like to congratulate Mr. Hung, for his recently received honourable title of Blue Ocean Ambassador by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. His tremendous work to take more than 3,000 photos in 28 coastal provinces and 100 river estuaries to capture the plastic waste that is trashing the Vietnamese coasts, and raising public awareness is commendable. From today until 9 June, you will see many telling photos from his unique collection.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let’s me highlight some figures that illustrate the immense challenge of plastic pollution, especially marine plastic pollution.

Globally,  

• 300 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year; half of this is produced for a single-use function
• Up to 5 trillion plastic bags are used each year.
• 1 million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute.
• Between 8-12 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the oceans each year; and
• If present trends continue, by 2050, our oceans will have more plastic than fish.

In Viet Nam,

• Each Vietnamese person consumes 41 kilograms of plastic in a year.
  
• There are 25.5 million tonnes of waste each year, of which between 7 to 10 million tonnes are released directly to the environment, without proper treatment.
• Studies have shown that Viet Nam is among the top five countries contributing to the ocean plastic population.
• 80% of plastic waste found in the oceans come from the mainland, which illustrates the importance of addressing responsible production and consumption of plastics.

Colleagues and friend,

Fortunately, with the recognition of this pressing challenge of our time, initiatives and actions to combat plastic pollution are taking shape around the world and here in Viet Nam.  

We commend Viet Nam's regional initiative to tackle ocean plastic pollution which was announced by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the G7 forum held in Canada and at the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly in Da Nang in June last year.

The Code of Conduct on Combatting Plastic Pollution initiated by the Embassy of Canada has grown to more than 60 signatories from international organizations, diplomatic missions and NGOs, and has signalled commitment to reduce the use of single-use plastics in the workplace and encouraging our partners to adopt low or no plastic-waste emitting options.

As signatory to the Code of Conduct, the United Nations and UNDP in Viet Nam have taken immediate action to implement changes to our everyday practices in our Green One UN House in Hanoi, such as:

• not providing disposable plastic water bottles, take-away drink cups and straws in the UN Canteen and at meetings both at UN House and at UN organized events at other venues; and
• replacing plastic garbage bags to biodegradable ones.

UNDP is also initiating some innovative project ideas, such as an ASEAN ending plastic pollution innovation challenge, scaling-up socialised model of domestic waste and plastic management, and the promotion of the circular economy. UNDP will also soon launch the Accelerator Lab to accelerate effective local actions while scaling up within a global network to address 21^st century development challenges such as plastic pollution.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Unfortunately, these actions are not enough. Although plastic has many valuable uses, we have become addicted to the convenience of single-use and disposable plastic, — with such severe environmental consequences.

A big question each of us must ask ourselves, what do you choose? Oceans or Plastic?

It’s time for a paradigm shift to our relationship with plastic.  

Let’s say no to single-use plastics!

Let’s shift to environmental-friendly products, such as bioplastics, non-plastic reusable bags, and so on.

Let’s use locally produced non-plastic products.

Thank you for attending the Opening Ceremony of this meaningful photography exhibition on marine plastics pollution. It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and Mr. Hung’s impressive collection on display today convey the urgency that all stakeholders: government, the private sector, and Vietnamese consumers, must join together to combat plastic pollution and make our oceans free of plastics.  

I wish you a wonderful evening and enjoy the story of each photo!

Xin Cam On!