Environmental pollution and climatechange are worrying Vietnam, requiring new feasible solutions and growthmodel transfers to turn challenges into opportunities for sustainabledevelopment.
Deputy Minister of NaturalResources and Environment Nguyen Thai Lai said economic losses caused byenvironmental pollution account for 1.5 to 3 percent of Vietnam’s grossdomestic product. Furthermore, the country spends up to 780 million USDannually on community healthcare due to the effects of pollution.
Lessons learned by developed countries reveal that nations thatneglect environmental affairs during economic development will have loweconomic efficiency, and expenses for pollution treatment are alwayshigher than funding required for pollution control.
Therefore, to protect the environment and actively respond to climatechange, the Prime Minister approved a National Action Plan on GreenGrowth with the hope to establish a green economy that intensifiesrenewable energy use, maintains low carbon emissions, and invests inrestoring the eco-system and environment.
However, Vietnam is facing significant challenges in building its green economy.
More than 70 percent of the total population are living in ruralareas and depend heavily on agricultural production. Green economicdevelopment, therefore, has to be implemented in tandem with povertyreduction and social welfare policies, which require substantialcapital.
Moreover, most production technologiesin the country are outdated and consume excessive energy levels, but thereplacement of those technologies is almost out of reach withoutcapital and technical assistance from hi-tech countries in the world.
Revising and supplementing policies in accordance with new growth models is also a major challenge facing the country.
At the same time, the country also has big opportunities during thegreen economy building process. As climate change draws the attention ofthe international community, Vietnam is receiving support andassistance from other nations and international organisations to respondto global climate change.
According to aresearch by Dr Patrica from Denmark’s Copenhagen University, inVietnam’s natural resources, cultivated land accounts for 36 percent,minerals 38 percent and other elements 26 percent. Moreover, the countryhas a coastline of more than 3,200 kilometres and millions of hectaresof water surface.
If Vietnam is able to takeadvantage of its natural resources and overcome shortcomings, it willachieve its sustainable development goal, narrow the development gap andensure political stability.
Deputy Head of theInstitute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and EnvironmentNguyen The Chinh suggested the country facilitate growth model reformwith a focus on sector restructuring and with priority given to hi-techand environmentally-friendly industries.
Heemphasised the importance of improving public awareness of greeneconomies, investing in science and technology, spending about 2 percentof the total budget expenditure on restoring the eco-system andprotecting the environment, and restructuring taxes related to naturalresources and the environment.-VNA
Deputy Minister of NaturalResources and Environment Nguyen Thai Lai said economic losses caused byenvironmental pollution account for 1.5 to 3 percent of Vietnam’s grossdomestic product. Furthermore, the country spends up to 780 million USDannually on community healthcare due to the effects of pollution.
Lessons learned by developed countries reveal that nations thatneglect environmental affairs during economic development will have loweconomic efficiency, and expenses for pollution treatment are alwayshigher than funding required for pollution control.
Therefore, to protect the environment and actively respond to climatechange, the Prime Minister approved a National Action Plan on GreenGrowth with the hope to establish a green economy that intensifiesrenewable energy use, maintains low carbon emissions, and invests inrestoring the eco-system and environment.
However, Vietnam is facing significant challenges in building its green economy.
More than 70 percent of the total population are living in ruralareas and depend heavily on agricultural production. Green economicdevelopment, therefore, has to be implemented in tandem with povertyreduction and social welfare policies, which require substantialcapital.
Moreover, most production technologiesin the country are outdated and consume excessive energy levels, but thereplacement of those technologies is almost out of reach withoutcapital and technical assistance from hi-tech countries in the world.
Revising and supplementing policies in accordance with new growth models is also a major challenge facing the country.
At the same time, the country also has big opportunities during thegreen economy building process. As climate change draws the attention ofthe international community, Vietnam is receiving support andassistance from other nations and international organisations to respondto global climate change.
According to aresearch by Dr Patrica from Denmark’s Copenhagen University, inVietnam’s natural resources, cultivated land accounts for 36 percent,minerals 38 percent and other elements 26 percent. Moreover, the countryhas a coastline of more than 3,200 kilometres and millions of hectaresof water surface.
If Vietnam is able to takeadvantage of its natural resources and overcome shortcomings, it willachieve its sustainable development goal, narrow the development gap andensure political stability.
Deputy Head of theInstitute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and EnvironmentNguyen The Chinh suggested the country facilitate growth model reformwith a focus on sector restructuring and with priority given to hi-techand environmentally-friendly industries.
Heemphasised the importance of improving public awareness of greeneconomies, investing in science and technology, spending about 2 percentof the total budget expenditure on restoring the eco-system andprotecting the environment, and restructuring taxes related to naturalresources and the environment.-VNA
