Vietnam focuses on developing renewable energies - Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Communist Party and the Government of Vietnamhave since long ago integrated green economy in their guidelines and policies,which have been turned into actions by sectors and local administrations.
Vietnam adopted a national strategy on green growth as earlyas in 2012, reflecting the country’s political will in the matter.
In 2014, the Government approved a national plan of actionsfor green growth, which defined key priorities in striving for green growthtowards a green economy.
The national action plan focused on the main topics of buildinginstitutions and plans for green growth at local level; reducing green housegas emission and promoting the use of clean and renewable energy; developinggreen production, green lifestyle and sustainable consumption.
It set out 12 groups of activities and 66 key tasks.
In carrying out the plan, ministries and agencies have launchedresearch projects and piloted models of green economy, green industry and greenurban areas.
The Ministry of Construction is implementing a project on makingcities adaptable to climate change in 2013-2020, including the building of anational database and maps on risks facing urban areas.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development hasdeployed several eco-economic models in coastal areas which were designed toadapt to climate change and rising sea levels.
The Ministry of Transport has undertaken three projects toreduce green house gas emission using funds from the national target programmeon climate change and green growth in 2016-2020. One of the projects aimed todevelop bus services as a means of public transportation during 2012-2020.
At provincial level, several provinces and centrally-runcities have adopted their own plans of action for green growth or integrate thetasks into their plans for economic restructuring. Many have implemented pilotgreen economic models.
The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh hasbuilt its master plan of socio-economic development to 2020 with a vision to2030 based on the viewpoint of shifting to green economy.
The northern port city of Hai Phong partneredwith Japan’s Kitakyushu city to design its green growth plan centred aroundgreen ports and green industrial parks.
Meanwhile, Buon Me Thuot city in the CentralHighlands province of Dak Lak has chosen sustainable coffee farming as the coreof its green growth scheme.
The southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh Cityhas invested in sustainable urban and transport development towards the goal ofbecoming a green city.
A step behind other countries in technology,Vietnam can learn from others in applying advanced technologies which are more energy-efficientand generate less polluting emissions.
In addition, the country has benefited from theassistance of many international organisations (the United Nations, the WorldBank) and countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Japan, France and the USin switching to a green economy.
All those factors provide a stepping stone forVietnam to build a green economy, which is the optimal way to achievesustainable development for the country.-VNA
