People dispose of dead fish found on the central coast (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Naturaldisasters and environmental pollution can reduce GDP by 0.6 percent per yearfrom 2016-2020, according to the National Centre for Socio-economic information and Forecast (NCIF) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
Therefore, changes are needed to reduce theeconomy’s reliance on non-renewable energy.
Dr Dang Duc Anh, head of the Centre’sAnalysis and Forecast Department, underlined the need for policies to help theeconomy better adapt to climate changes and to protect the environment in thelong run.
According to NCIF, from 2016-2020, GDPgrowth is expected enter a new cycle of recovery, supported by free tradeagreements, FDI enterprises and external demands. Economic restructuring andreforms of administration procedures and business climate will also contributeto boosting growth.
However, impacts of climate andenvironmental pollution will pose remarkable challenges to the economy, thecentre said.
Vietnam is one of the 30 countries rated at“extreme risk” brought about by climate change by Maplecroft, a global risk andstrategic consulting firm based in the UK, in its Climate Change VulnerabilityIndex within the next 30 years via 42 socio-economic and environmental factors.
Vietnam was ranked 23rd among 193 countrieson the list.
Nguyen The Chinh, Director of the Instituteof Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE) underthe Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, highlighted theenvironmental consequences caused by economic growth, investment attraction andpopulation expansion.
Conflicts between economic growth andenvironmental protection have become more obvious. The quality of theenvironment has worsened. Environment-related incidents and disputes areincreasing nationwide, Chinh said.
Experts pointed to the fact that althoughVietnam has not seriously contributed to global warming, it is among the 25 lowand middle-income countries that release the most greenhouse gases every year.
In order to reduce negative impacts ofenvironmental factors on GDP growth, it’s crucial to conduct intensive studieson Vietnam’s GDP growth in medium term, with consideration of the environmentalfactor, said Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen The Phuong.
The studies will provide early warnings,serving the design of policies on economic development, Phuong said.
Dr. Dang Duc Anh stressed the need forrestructuring the economy in the direction of reducing industries relying onnatural resources, particularly non-renewable source, and having low addedvalues and economic efficiency.
On the other hand, incentives should beoffered for industries using clean energy, such as natural gas, biofuel andrenewable energy while issuing quota of polluting emission for enterprises, Anhsuggested.
The legal framework on environmentalprotection needs to be improved, particularly punishments for violators.
Experts agreed that more comprehensive and intensiveanalysis on the interaction between economic growth and climate change, and howto enhance the ability of the economy to adapt to climate change.-VNA
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