HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – The regional initiative “Enhancing the Science–Policy Interface to Manage Microplastic Influx from Major Cities into the Oceans in Southeast Asia”, funded by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), successfully held second project meeting at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, bringing together partners from Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia to review progress and plan the next steps.
The meeting was led by Dr. Wenchao Xue, Director, Belt and Road Research Center /Academic Chair EEM, SET at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), the meeting confirmed the project is progressing well in its three pilot cities: Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Jakarta. A key achievement is a comprehensive review of the current status of microplastic study in the region, which has revealed a significant gap in management and policy solutions. This insight serves as a crucial foundation for the project. Each partner team is now developing a specific framework to track the journey of microplastics from their source, through urban waterways, and into the ocean. This work will provide local governments with the necessary tools to compare and find the most effective management approaches for adaptation.
During the meeting, participants visited the Le Minh Xuan central wastewater treatment plant and KEYLAB’s pilot Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs) project . The FTWs demonstrate a nature-friendly, low-cost innovation that can be applied to capture microplastics in urban canals where centralized infrastructure is not feasible.
A stakeholder consultation in Ho Chi Minh City confirmed that public awareness of microplastic issues in Vietnam is still in its early stages, highlighting the importance of presenting data in a solution-oriented and practical manner.
The meeting concluded with a strong sense of strong collaboration among the partners. This project is set to strengthen environmental governance and create a direct link between scientific data and actionable policy in Southeast Asia, serving as a model for other regions.
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