Description

This activity is within the framework of the project “Vietnam actively prepares and participates in building a global agreement on ocean pollution” approved by Decision 1407/QĐ-TTg in 2021.

The negotiation of the draft resolution Rwanda-Peru on addressing the global plastic pollution crisis will take place from the 28th of February to the 2nd of March, 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya. This is the fifth session of the United Nations Environmental Assembly, so-called the UNEA 5.2. This resolution addresses the entire life cycle of plastics, i.e., from “the extraction of fossil fuels, manufacturing, consumption, end-of-life management, and the safe retrieval of legacy plastics” by proposing a legally binding agreement. Particularly, UN member countries will decide on global environmental policies and priorities for international environmental law, i.e., the potential Plastics Treaty will be discussed.

The draft resolution Rwanda-Peru was done by the governments of Rwanda and Peru at the Ministerial Conference on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution in September 2021 in Geneva. If it is adopted at UNEA 5.2, an International Negotiating Committee will be created. Subsequently, it can potentially result in a Plastic Treaty by the next UNEA 6.

In Vietnam, research has been conducted to “review domestic policies on management and reduction of plastic pollution and assess the integration of existing national policies with potential regulations to be built into the global agreement”. This activity is carried out by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) under the support of the World Wildlife Fund in Vietnam. Besides, Vietnam also already joined the Ministerial Conference on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution in September 2021 to contribute to developing the global plastic agreement.

Related article: Vietnam aims to become a regional pioneer in reducing marine plastic waste

Sources & further information: “Dự thảo nghị quyết PERU/RWANDA: Việt Nam sẵn sàng đàm phán” at https://congthuong.vn, “Vietnam ready to join negotiations on draft Peru/ Rwanda resolution on plastic waste” at https://en.vietnamplus.vn, “An international treaty to curb plastic pollution risks being watered down — New Zealand needs to take a stand” at https://theconversation.com, “What are the chances of a robust International Plastics Treaty?” at https://www.plasticsoupfoundation.org, and “Quyết định số 1407/QĐ-TTg Phê duyệt Đề án Việt Nam tham gia xây dựng Thỏa thuận toàn cầu về ô nhiễm nhựa đại dương” at https://monre.gov.vn, accessed on 21 February 2022.