Environmental consciousness creates dynamics for circular economy

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hanoi (VNA) – As people are increasingly aware of environmental protection, the Government has identified development of low-carbon economy and circular economy as a top priority, contributing to shifting the economic structure into a more sustainable fashion, according to Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency’s reporters, Ha said with the locals’ environmental consciousness, Vietnam is moving from a brown economy based on fossil fuels to a sustainable green economy.

Ha said the shift to a circular, green economy with low carbon emissions is an indispensable trend of the era and a revolution of the green industry in the 21^st century, presenting a chance for the global community to deliver on international commitments in environmental protection and climate change response for the sake of sustainable development.

Poetic Cat Ba island is an ideal get-away for tourists. The island boasts untouched landscapes and beautiful check-in points that visitors should not miss while discovering the “pearl” island. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Since 2016, the Party Central Committee and the Politburo have outlined a wide range of policies to branch out an environmentally-friendly economy based on three pillars of designing and prolonging material lifespan, reducing waste and emissions, and restoring the ecological system. This has laid out the important roles of the environmental and resources management as the prices paid for neglect of environment is high.

Responding to the reporters’ question on the ministry’s success during the 2016-2020 period, Ha stressed the sector was determined and innovate, as well as closely coordinate with other sectors to solve bottlenecks and arising problems so as to build the circular economy and contribute to the nation’s socio-economic developments goals.

The ministry has tried to solve difficulties in order to effectively use natural resources and environment for national development, he said, adding that a number of decrees have been issued to remove challenges in land, or build a legal basis for proactive control and environmental protection.

An aerial view of Nam Son waste treatment zone (Photo: VNA).

Along with that, many great strategic policies have been built to harmonise socio-economic development with environmental protection, effective management and use of natural resources and response to climate change for sustainable development.

Policies and resolutions on sustainable marine economic development strategy, reform on land, map and measurement, environmental protection law and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta have also been issued.

In the past five years, the restructuring of land use has met the requirements of developing non-agricultural production and business, building uniform infrastructure, urbanisation creating great socio-economic efficiency, contributing nearly 950 trillion VND (over 41 billion USD) to the State budget.

Nearly 1 million hectares of unused land has been put in use. Forest coverage nationwide rose to 42 per cent by 2020.

The work of environmental protection has made strong changes from awareness to action with the participation of the whole society. Many people say no to plastic bags and plastic products, he emphasized.

Once the public’s awareness of environmental protection is improved, the country will attain great achievements in sustainable development, Ha added.

A corner of Hanoi capital city (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The resource management, environmental protection and climate change adaptation are important contents in the draft documents submitted to the National Congress of the Party.

The drafting documents are major guidelines towards the goal of sustainable development of the country based on the viewpoint of harmonious development between the economy, society and the environment; protection of people's health as the primary goal; investment in environmental protection as an investment for sustainable development; proactively responding to climate change in global relations.

The documents also note that it is not only a challenge but also create opportunities to promote the transformation of the growth model towards sustainable development.

Exploiting and using resources economically, effectively, and sustainably will both meet immediate requirements and ensure long-term benefits, of which long-term benefits are fundamental, ensuring resource security.

Many major solutions such as circular economic development and green economy are emphasised in the documents./.