Earth Day, an event to increase public awareness of the world’s environmental problems, is celebrated in the US for the first time on April 22, 1970. The United Nations General Assembly designated April 22 as the International Mother Earth Day (popularly known as Earth Day) in a resolution adopted in 2009.
Fossil fuels are hydrocarbon compounds such as coal, natural gas, and oil. They are formed by the anaerobic decomposition of buried ancient organisms. Generally, coal forms from land sediments and natural gas and oil, from marine.
Petroleum, coal, natural gas and orimulsion are the four fossil fuel types. They are classified as non-renewable resources because they take millions of years to form, and reserves are being exhausted much faster than new ones are being formed.
The burning of fossil fuels produces around 21.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, and it is estimated that natural processes can absorb only about half of that amount, so there is a net increase of 10.65 billion tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year.
Vietnam is stepping up afforestation. (Photo: VNA) Given this, Vietnam and other countries are working radically to save fossil fuels and use alternative energy sources.
The Southeast Asian nation is importing petrol and it is the fact that changes of the world market have profoundly affected the domestic economy.
Last year, Vietnam spent 4.41 billion USD to import 9.69 million tonnes of petrol, down 15.5 percent in volume but up 24.6 percent in value as compared with the previous year.
Customs statistics show that in March, Vietnam's petrol import reached 1.31 million tonnes valued at 1.36 billion USD, month-on-month increases of 75 percent in volume and 114.8 percent in value.
In the first quarter of this year, the volume was 2.66 million tonnes worth 2.45 billion USD, up 26.8 percent and 128.5 percent year-on-year, respectively.
International organisations and experts forecast that Vietnam’s energy demand will expand 15 times by 2050 and carbon emissions from energy consumption will increase 26 times from 2000.
Therefore, Vietnam will face a serious energy shortage if the country does not adopt sustainable energy development policies in a timely fashion, they warned.
The 12th National Assembly (NA) issued Legal Document No. 50/2010/QH12 on economical and efficient use of energy, which took effect from January 1, 2011, aiming to raise rights, obligations and responsibility of organisations, households and individuals in this regard.
The economical and efficient use of energy has been seen as a way to spur sustainable socio-economic development.
The Government’s Office on January 30, 2022, also issued Notice No. 30/TB-VPCP on the conclusion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the first meeting of the national steering committee for the implementation of Vietnam’s commitments at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).
According to the notice, climate change remains a serious threat to the globe, and Vietnam is one of the developing countries worst hit by climate change.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) The implementation of the commitments at COP26, especially the one to net zero emissions, is an inevitable and irreversible trend. Also, the timely realisation of these commitments will bring great and long-term benefits to Vietnam. The country, therefore, needs to take advantage of this opportunity to restructure its economy towards low carbon.
Immediately after COP26, PM Chinh directed ministries and agencies to quickly study and set out programmes and plans to fulfill Vietnam's commitments. The Government has established a national steering committee for the implementation of the commitments headed by the PM and staffed by ministers and leaders of agencies.
The PM requested that in the first quarter of 2022, the steering committee must instruct ministries and agencies to complete the building of an action plan to realise Vietnam's commitments at COP26.
The immediate tasks should focus on shifting from fossil fuels to green and clean energy; reducing greenhouse and methane emissions, especially in agricultural production and waste treatment; encouraging the research, production and use of electric automobiles; managing and using the existing forest area sustainably and, at the same time, stepping up afforestation; the research, production and use of construction materials and urban development in accordance with green and sustainable development; promoting and reforming the communication work to encourage people and businesses to join Government's efforts in implementing the commitments; and promoting digital transformation to respond to climate change.
Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh on April 13, 2022, also signed Decision No. 450/QD-TTg approving the national strategy for environmental protection by 2030, with a vision towards 2050.
The overall objectives of the strategy are to keep pollution from worsening as well as environmental degradation; address urgent environmental problems; gradually improve and restore environmental quality; prevent biodiversity loss; contribute to improving capacity for climate change response; and ensure environmental security, develop models of the circular, green, low carbon economy, striving to achieve the country's 2030 sustainable development goals.
The strategy also sets the specific goals of preventing and controlling adverse impacts that cause environmental pollution and degradation./.
VNA
