Vietnam affirms responsibility in implementing the BRS Conventions to promote circular economy and combat plastic pollution

With the theme "Make visible the invisible: sound management of chemicals and wastes", this year's COP conference focused on promoting dialogue, sharing experiences, and reaffirming the political leadership role in responding to pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change.

During the conference, a high-level roundtable discussion on the circular economy (Circularity) took place on the afternoon of April 30. The discussion included ministers and deputy ministers of the environment, as well as head delegates from Sweden, India, Estonia, Pakistan, Cambodia, Botswana, Seychelles, and Vietnam.

The participants discussed the opportunities the three BRS Conventions offer countries to promote the circular economy, enhance the lifecycle management of chemicals, and recycle waste. They also shared tools that countries use to implement the three Conventions regulations.

Additionally, the delegates exchanged views on other issues such as information systems (digital data) to track the import, export, and transportation of chemicals and waste globally; Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanisms to promote waste collection and recycling; new challenges such as textile waste, and national and global solutions to manage and enhance textile waste recycling.

Actively participating in the conference, the Vietnamese delegation reaffirmed Vietnam's responsibility and efforts to implement international environmental commitments while enhancing the country's global standing.

On the sidelines of the conference, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh and the Vietnamese delegation met with the Minister of Environment and Climate of Norway, Mr. Kristoffer André Hansen. During the meeting, the Deputy Minister requested Norway's continued technical and financial support in building and implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy and managing plastic pollution through sustainable production and consumption models in Vietnam.

At the same time, Vietnam expressed its support for establishing a binding global plastics agreement, considering it a critical opportunity to tackle plastic pollution, especially in the marine environment. Vietnam emphasized the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and stressed the need for a flexible mechanism that considers each country's conditions, capacities, and development levels.