Senior General Min Aung Hlaing stressed that Myanmar is implementing the 2019 Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Region, joining hands with other ASEAN states.
A ceremony to mark World Environment Day 2025 was held at the Yezin University of Forestry and Environmental Conservation in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday, with an address by State Administration Council Chairman, Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
In his address, the Senior General highlighted that, as urban areas and factories do not have systematic management of waste, all global countries including Myanmar are facing environmental pollution problems at present.
He noted that among varieties of waste, plastic waste is larger day by day, and it becomes a main challenge of environmental pollution, threatening the daily life of living beings, the health of all humans and sustainable development.
The Senior General emphasized that, in assessing the plastic production worldwide, the statistics in 2023 mentioned more than 400 million tonnes of plastic products, which rose to a double volume rather than last two decades. If the production still increases so, the world’s plastic production will reach 1,100 million tonnes in 2050, he added.
On the other hand, he continued that lack of control and undisciplined disposal of plastic waste become a serious danger of plastic pollution across the world at present.
He stressed that microplastics spread all parts of oceans, rivers and creeks, atmospheric areas and daily foods, penetrating the body organs of humans as very dangerous possibilities.
The Senior General underscored that Myanmar has issued the National Waste Management Strategy and Master Plan for Myanmar (2018-2030). Such a plan is being implemented in urban areas and industries. In order to collaboratively implement plastic waste control as a priority, efforts are being made to issue the National Plastic Management Action Plan.
The Senior General urged all to follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the Coastal Industries and Urban Waste Management Procedure to reduce plastic pollution in Myanmar, boom plastic recycling industries at home and contribute to the prevention of marine environmental pollution due to plastic waste.
Moreover, he added that, as Myanmar is a member of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, it is necessary to systematically restrict the illegal import of plastic waste into the country under the convention.
The Senior General unveiled that Myanmar is implementing the 2019 Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Region, joining hands with other ASEAN states.
After the speech, the video clips of the message sent by the UN Secretary-General for the 2025 World Environment Day and the message of the Executive Director of UNESCO were screened.
The Senior General presented good environmental management city, village and factory awards to Kengtung in Shan State (East), Myinkaba Village of NyaungU Township and the 30-megawatt solar-powered generation industry of Great Success Energy Co Ltd from Thazi Township through officials, respectively.
Council Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, Council Member Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister General Mya Tun Oo and Council Member Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister Admiral Tin Aung San presented prizes to winners in the National Clean and Green School Award-winning schools and winners in the article contest to mark the World Environment Day.
A video clip on 2025 World Environment Day and another video clip titled Unseen Killer PM 2.5 sent by the Thai Embassy to Myanmar were screened.
The Senior General and attendees viewed the exhibition booths of the World Environment Day 2025.
MNA/TTA
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