Warning of sea pollution

Nearly 90% of Asian wastewater discharged directly into the sea without treatment is causing environmental concerns, threatening the ecology of coastal areas that are vital to the economic activity of humanity. , especially fisheries, according to the UN Environment Program's Report on Marine Environmental Prevention Measures (UNEP), published at the International Conference in Beijing (China) on October 16.

(Photo: unep.or.jp) Although more than 60 countries around the world are aware of this growing risk and there have been action programs to prevent marine pollution sources from land. However, the results do not compensate for environmental damage due to population explosion, rapid urbanization and industrialization in coastal areas.

According to UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, about 80% of land-based marine pollutants and this trend could increase significantly by 2050 if the number of people living in coastal areas doubles as It is expected that in the next 40 years, and if countries do not speed up anti-pollution programs. Along with waste from large factories located in coastal areas, the South and East Asia seas must also receive 2/3 of the volume of soil and sediment due to rivers flowing into the sea.

Environmental pollution not only directly affects human health, but also destroys coastal ecosystems of great economic value such as mangrove forests, coral reefs and seaweed mats. .

According to the UN, governments need to act quickly to reduce sea pollution caused by waste from the mainland, through close cooperation between the government and local authorities, among private organizations and non-governmental organizations regard the prevention of marine pollution as the primary responsibility of governments.

In the past 10 years, the UN Global Action Program (GPA) has initiated a positive contribution to promoting the nation's commitment to preventing marine pollution, mobilizing large amounts of funding. environmental protection, including a $ 400 million investment to protect East Asia waters, $ 380 million for the Mediterranean .