Along with many action programmes such as the National Target Programmeon Energy Saving and Efficiency, Environmental Industry DevelopmentProject until 2015 with a Vision Towards 2020, the Cleaner Production(CL) Strategy until 2020 was also promoted in industries, with a view togreen and sustainable industrial development. Report by the VietnamEconomic News.
According to Deputy Minister ofIndustry and Trade Le Duong Quang, the ministry, as a state agency incharge of industrial and commercial management, in recent years hasdeveloped and implemented numerous programmes and projects to promoteindustrial production and trade to develop sustainability, such as theEnvironmental Industry Development Project until 2015 with a VisionTowards 2020 and Bio-fuel Development Project until 2015 with a VisionTowards 2020. The programmes and project have contributed significantlyto the transformation of the production and changing consumption habitsof industrialised products, reduction of waste into the environmentwhile making the most use of natural resources, creating better workingconditions for the workers while increasing productivity, improving thecompetitiveness of industrial products, and promoting green andsustainable industrial development.
It is estimatedthat there have been more than 1,200 businesses across the countryapplying cleaner production solutions. The ministry has organised nearly200 CP training sessions and workshops attracting more than 11,000participants, contributing to raising CP awareness for domesticbusinesses and related organisations. In particular, more than 20provinces and cities nationwide have prepared CP action plans forimplementing the CP strategy in industry and all departments of industryand trade are capable of guiding and counseling on the application ofcleaner production in industry.
Many businesses havetaken initiatives to apply CP solutions through pollution control atthe source and take advantage of other business waste as raw materials.For example, to become an eco-industrial park or environmentallyfriendly industrial park, Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park has focused onwaste reduction at source, and reusing and recycling waste; wasteexchange inside and outside the industrial park and end of pipetreatment of waste. Through a survey in 53 manufacturing companies inBien Hoa 1 Industrial Park, 14 companies have applied processes to reusewaste products and waste materials from their production lines; fivecompanies often exchanges waste with waste collectors outside the park;and one company has applied CP solutions.
Accordingto Quang Nam province’s Department of Industry and Trade, some 90percent of industrial production units and 95 percent of managementunits in the province have learnt about CP solutions. The province hasincorporated a CP promotion program into the strategy of environmentalprotection and pollution control. CP activities have always beenmaintained after the CP in industry component ended in 2011. Through CPsolutions, industrial enterprises in the province have reduced fivepercent on raw materials and 30 percent of emissions.
As Vietnam is gradually developing renewable energy projects, withlimited use of new energy sources and applying solutions to energyefficiency and savings in the sectors of commerce, industry andservices, the initial CP results have contributed significantly to itsroadmap to the green and sustainable industrial development.
Data reported at a workshop held in Hanoi on September 18 by theVietnam Environment Administration showed that the content ofparticulates around most industrial zones (IZs) exceeded the allowedlimit (in some places it was found to be three or four times higher thanthe allowed limit). Pollution is caused mostly by dust, carbon dioxide(CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and noise, leading to serious degradation ofthe environment and directly affecting socioeconomic developmentresults as well as human health.
Solid waste isalso a matter of concern. Statistics show that IZs in Vietnam discard anaverage of several ten thousand tonnes of solid waste each day or overthree million tonnes each year. The index is growing along withincreases in the fill-up ratio of IZs. It is forecasted that the totalamount of solid waste from IZs would reach 6-7.5 million tonnes by 2015and 9-13.5 million tonnes by 2020.
Environmentalpollution caused by wastewater is even more serious. Currently, most IZslack central wastewater treatment stations. The amount of wastewaterfrom IZs in the Southeastern region accounts for 49 percent of the totalamount of wastewater from all IZs nationwide, while only 66 percent ofthe IZs have central wastewater treatment stations. Many IZs have comeinto operation but still lack wastewater treatment systems. Some IZsalready have wastewater treatment systems but have yet to put them intooperation. In some IZs, the wastewater treatment system has beenineffectively operated or has degraded. It is estimated that about 70percent of wastewater from IZs runs directly into the environmentwithout any treatment.
Experts attributed thissituation mostly to the limited public awareness about environmentalprotection and protecting the environment of IZs in particular. In theiropinion, the community is yet to appreciate the important role of theenvironment as well as the sustainable relationship between productionactivities and the lives of workers in IZs as well as between the IZsand surrounding areas. Many IZs attract investment and buildinfrastructure without following the design of investment projects. Theyignore building central wastewater treatment systems and theirinvestment in water drainage facilities is inadequate.
Notably, the regulations on environmental protection in IZs are stilllacking. There are no specific regulations regarding environmentalpollution control in IZs. The regulation on environmental assessment ofprojects based in IZs has been slowly revised and lacks strictsanctions. Legal documents which are applied to monitor the treatment ofwastewater in IZs remain unclear. Most environmental incidents happeneddue to the lack of seriousness by businesses in implementingenvironmental protection commitments. Many businesses have eludedenvironmental inspectors. The economic recession in recent years hasbeen an obstacle to efforts by firms to invest in environmentalprotection. Environmental inspection activities have yet to meetpractical demand.
The National Assembly StandingCommittee held a meeting on September 19, 2013 to collect opinions ondraft amendments to the Environmental Protection Law. The NationalAssembly’s Ethnic Council Chairman Ksor Phuoc said that to improve thesituation, the state must apply a mechanism that encourages all peopleto take part in environmental protection activities. In his opinion, itis necessary to bring into play the role of the people, governmentofficials at different levels and sociopolitical organizations insupervising the implementation of environmental protection policies andregulations in localities.-VNA
According to Deputy Minister ofIndustry and Trade Le Duong Quang, the ministry, as a state agency incharge of industrial and commercial management, in recent years hasdeveloped and implemented numerous programmes and projects to promoteindustrial production and trade to develop sustainability, such as theEnvironmental Industry Development Project until 2015 with a VisionTowards 2020 and Bio-fuel Development Project until 2015 with a VisionTowards 2020. The programmes and project have contributed significantlyto the transformation of the production and changing consumption habitsof industrialised products, reduction of waste into the environmentwhile making the most use of natural resources, creating better workingconditions for the workers while increasing productivity, improving thecompetitiveness of industrial products, and promoting green andsustainable industrial development.
It is estimatedthat there have been more than 1,200 businesses across the countryapplying cleaner production solutions. The ministry has organised nearly200 CP training sessions and workshops attracting more than 11,000participants, contributing to raising CP awareness for domesticbusinesses and related organisations. In particular, more than 20provinces and cities nationwide have prepared CP action plans forimplementing the CP strategy in industry and all departments of industryand trade are capable of guiding and counseling on the application ofcleaner production in industry.
Many businesses havetaken initiatives to apply CP solutions through pollution control atthe source and take advantage of other business waste as raw materials.For example, to become an eco-industrial park or environmentallyfriendly industrial park, Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park has focused onwaste reduction at source, and reusing and recycling waste; wasteexchange inside and outside the industrial park and end of pipetreatment of waste. Through a survey in 53 manufacturing companies inBien Hoa 1 Industrial Park, 14 companies have applied processes to reusewaste products and waste materials from their production lines; fivecompanies often exchanges waste with waste collectors outside the park;and one company has applied CP solutions.
Accordingto Quang Nam province’s Department of Industry and Trade, some 90percent of industrial production units and 95 percent of managementunits in the province have learnt about CP solutions. The province hasincorporated a CP promotion program into the strategy of environmentalprotection and pollution control. CP activities have always beenmaintained after the CP in industry component ended in 2011. Through CPsolutions, industrial enterprises in the province have reduced fivepercent on raw materials and 30 percent of emissions.
As Vietnam is gradually developing renewable energy projects, withlimited use of new energy sources and applying solutions to energyefficiency and savings in the sectors of commerce, industry andservices, the initial CP results have contributed significantly to itsroadmap to the green and sustainable industrial development.
Data reported at a workshop held in Hanoi on September 18 by theVietnam Environment Administration showed that the content ofparticulates around most industrial zones (IZs) exceeded the allowedlimit (in some places it was found to be three or four times higher thanthe allowed limit). Pollution is caused mostly by dust, carbon dioxide(CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and noise, leading to serious degradation ofthe environment and directly affecting socioeconomic developmentresults as well as human health.
Solid waste isalso a matter of concern. Statistics show that IZs in Vietnam discard anaverage of several ten thousand tonnes of solid waste each day or overthree million tonnes each year. The index is growing along withincreases in the fill-up ratio of IZs. It is forecasted that the totalamount of solid waste from IZs would reach 6-7.5 million tonnes by 2015and 9-13.5 million tonnes by 2020.
Environmentalpollution caused by wastewater is even more serious. Currently, most IZslack central wastewater treatment stations. The amount of wastewaterfrom IZs in the Southeastern region accounts for 49 percent of the totalamount of wastewater from all IZs nationwide, while only 66 percent ofthe IZs have central wastewater treatment stations. Many IZs have comeinto operation but still lack wastewater treatment systems. Some IZsalready have wastewater treatment systems but have yet to put them intooperation. In some IZs, the wastewater treatment system has beenineffectively operated or has degraded. It is estimated that about 70percent of wastewater from IZs runs directly into the environmentwithout any treatment.
Experts attributed thissituation mostly to the limited public awareness about environmentalprotection and protecting the environment of IZs in particular. In theiropinion, the community is yet to appreciate the important role of theenvironment as well as the sustainable relationship between productionactivities and the lives of workers in IZs as well as between the IZsand surrounding areas. Many IZs attract investment and buildinfrastructure without following the design of investment projects. Theyignore building central wastewater treatment systems and theirinvestment in water drainage facilities is inadequate.
Notably, the regulations on environmental protection in IZs are stilllacking. There are no specific regulations regarding environmentalpollution control in IZs. The regulation on environmental assessment ofprojects based in IZs has been slowly revised and lacks strictsanctions. Legal documents which are applied to monitor the treatment ofwastewater in IZs remain unclear. Most environmental incidents happeneddue to the lack of seriousness by businesses in implementingenvironmental protection commitments. Many businesses have eludedenvironmental inspectors. The economic recession in recent years hasbeen an obstacle to efforts by firms to invest in environmentalprotection. Environmental inspection activities have yet to meetpractical demand.
The National Assembly StandingCommittee held a meeting on September 19, 2013 to collect opinions ondraft amendments to the Environmental Protection Law. The NationalAssembly’s Ethnic Council Chairman Ksor Phuoc said that to improve thesituation, the state must apply a mechanism that encourages all peopleto take part in environmental protection activities. In his opinion, itis necessary to bring into play the role of the people, governmentofficials at different levels and sociopolitical organizations insupervising the implementation of environmental protection policies andregulations in localities.-VNA
