The Vietnamese environment sector's main tasks this year include administrative reform, tightened controls on natural resources and more measures to tackle climate change.
Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnamese environment sec༺tor's main tasks this year include administrat♌ive reform, tightened controls on natural resources and more measures to tackle climate change.
This was revealed at a recent conference to review the 2015 performance of the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry as well as to introduce its working plan for this year.
Deputy Minister Tran Hong Ha said that last year marked a milestone for Vietnam's environment sector in improving legal framework with new laws like the Law on Sea and Island Natural Resources and Environment, the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology, nine Governmental decrees, seven decisions and 75 circulars.
As many as 30 land-related administrative procedures were removed last year. One-shop registration offices for land use rights were opened nationwide, which helped ensure transparency and simplicity for residents.
Last year also saw strong punishment to polluters as 392 out of 439 major polluters across the country were punished. Pollution at 11 trade villages was tackled. Waste water was treated in two heavily polluted rivers – Nhue-Day River in the north and Dong Nai River in the south.
Environment Minister Nguyen Minh Quang said that this year, the ministry would improve, review and implement laws, policies and strategies on natural resource management.
Quang said that the ministry also planned to tighten management on land use with a focus on reducing land-related complaints by land users.
Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai appreciated the ministry's 2015 performance and agreed with its new-year resolutions.
Hai asked for an improvement of legal documents to create an effective mechanism in natural resource management.
He suggested a pilot model with three independent parties of State, investor and land users who have land taken for project development.
The deputy PM also called on the environment sector to develop, implement and oversee environment projects that help Vietnam realise its commitments to international partners.
He said that Vietnam – a country lying in lower part of rivers – faced the shortage of water, so drastic measures were needed for effective use and to manage the valuable resources.-VNA
Air pollution in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has risen to alarming levels due to waste, dust and noise pollution, and has affected the health of area residents.
This year's water quality index at three main rivers in Southern Vietnam has improved since 2013 and 2014, a recent conference in Hanoi on "Rivers and Challenges" reported.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)
