Expressing his delight to the presence of Erik Solheim in the sixth Global Environment Facility Assembly (GEF 6) in the central city of Da Nang, Minister Tran Hong Ha thanked for cooperation and support of UN Environment in general and Erik Solheim in particular for Vietnam in the past time.
Minister Ha said that for the past time, UN Environment provided technologies and consultants in building environment policies and regulations to Vietnam as well as offered scholarships to environment students and supported environment-relating program.
Moreover, Minister Ha thanked UN Environment Chief Erik Solheim to participate in sideline events held by the Ministry including plastic oceanic waste control and initiative of building regional partnerships in management of plastic waste in the Southeast Asia, hoping that UN Environment Chief will support the initiative.
Responding to Vietnamese Environment Minister’s proposal, Erik Solheim said contents of his discussion with the minister will be added to the list of the UNEP’s activities during the GEF 6.
Also at the meeting, Erik Solheim said about gradually eliminating hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) in the Kigali Amendment adopted by member countries in October 2016.
The amendment will take effect on January 1, 2019 approved by 20 nation members of the Montreal Protocol. At present, 38 countries have approved the document; accordingly, it will be put into practice since January 1, 2019.
Minister Ha promised that Vietnam will stop production and use of single-use plastic bags. To achieve it, cooperation between related ministries and departments is needed besides good direction of high agencies with the participation of private sector in improved design so that environment and human health are guaranteed.
