Symposium seeks ways to promote circular economy in Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) – The International Symposium Hanoi Geoengineering 2022, themed “Innovative Geosciences, Circular Economy and Sustainability,” opened in Hanoi on February 11.

The two-day event was jointly organized by the University of Science under the Vietnam National University (VNU), the Kyoto University, Vietnam Meteorological Hydrological Administration (VMHA), several domestic partner universities, universities and institutes from Japan, Australia and the US.

Drawing the participation of 100 scientists, managers and businesspeople at home and abroad, the hybrid symposium focused on innovative geoscience solutions to promote the circular economy and to solve diverse environmental problems that will focus on three main topics.

The first is Earth science and geoengineering, geo-ecological technologies for circular and ecological economy. Participants will focus on discussing environment and climate change investigation, environmental protection, environmental remediation, waste treatment and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, disaster mitigation and resilience, disaster and environment recovery, disaster resilience and green growth, sustainable development of infrastructure and geosystems, water engineering (wastewater management and treatment), microplastic pollution reduction.

The second is sustainable natural resources for the circular economy. Delegates will talk about resource circulation, green materials, renewable and clean energy (hydropower, tide, wave and ocean current, wind, solar, and geothermal energy), sustainable exploitation and innovative utilization of traditional energies (coal, oil, and gas), sustainable exploitation and utilization of natural resources, natural resource recovery, natural capitalbiodiversity and habitats, eco-tourisms, geoheritage conservation, integrated models of sustainable natural resource allocation and utilization.

Finally, participants will discuss solutions for circular economy and sustainability, including science and technology, policy and institutions, capacity building and collaboration for sustainable development, maintenance of sustainability, and circular and resilient economy, particularly the applications of digital transformation and innovative technologies (including AI, IoT, block chain, data analytics).

Speaking at the event, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said that as global efforts are being made to restore natural ecosystems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as fix mistakes in mining, the symposium offers an opportunity for scientists, technology providers, managers and businesses to find solutions to protect the Earth from global, regional and local fluctuations, thereby developing prosperous, safe and sustainable nations.

It is necessary to switch from exploitation of nature to investment and restoration, as well as show the pioneering role in finding new values, providing possible solutions for landfilling and storing carbon in exploited mines, and searching for clean raw materials and renewable energy, he said.

He also emphasized the need to discover the potential of geological and geomorphological values for socio-economic development to replace the exploitation of non-renewable natural resources, laying the foundation for the development of a circular economy and a green economy.

According to Minister Tran Hong Ha, gathering scientists from many different fields of Earth science from countries around the world as well as linking basic science subjects such as geology, meteorology, hydrology and oceanography will better serve the comprehensive study of the natural rules of the Earth.

On that basis, the minister appreciated the idea of organising the symposium and hoped that after this event, recommendations from scientists would be collected to help the Vietnamese Government in the implementation of international commitments on environment and climate as well as technological solutions for exploitation and sustainable use of resources, development of circular economy and sustainable green economy.

Sharing the same view, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Son, Vice President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi also believes that the Hanoi Geoengineering 2022 will create an academic environment for scientists, managers and businesses to exchange important solutions to concretize the Party's orientation on promoting the country's development in the 2021-2030 period, which is building a circular and environment-friendly economy./.