Environmental protection must be at core of socio-economic development targets: experts
Predictions on the intensity and impacts of environmental issues on various socio-economic aspects must be highlighted in the draft documents to be submitted to the 13th National Party Congress, said deputy head of the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) Nguyen Hung Thinh.
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) — Predictions on the intensityand impacts of environmental issues on various socio-economic aspects must behighlighted in the draft documents to be submitted to the 13th National PartyCongress, said deputy head of the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) NguyenHung Thinh.
Feedback from experts on the Party Congress documentsemphasise the harmonisation of socio-economic development andenvironmental protection. To do this, environmental protection goals “must beat the core of the socio-economic growth target and determines the country’ssustainable development,” according to the VEA.
As environmental issues are affecting various aspects of thesocio-economy, it will take a long time to recover from the impacts ofpollution as a result of industrialisation and modernisation.
In many documents, Vietnam has highlighted the determinationof “not sacrificing environmental protection for economic development”.
Among socio-economic targets in the 2021-25 period, one ofthe notable goals is to have 100 percent of polluting facilities treatingtheir waste and emissions. This target seems to be hard to achieve and thecountry needs to focus all resources to meet the goal as currently only 66.4percent of the facilities are able to address the problem, experts from VEA said.
Thinh said the national development orientations forthe 2021-30 period mentioned in the draft Party Congress documents focuson land management but there are no solutions for pollution management as wellas environmental protection and response.
Besides completing a legal framework for the mid- andlong-term, Vietnam needs to have an appropriate and effective management modelas well as materials, resources and finance to effectively respond toclimate change, he said.
He urged more solutions on investing in andpromoting renewable energy technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissionsand climate change.
“We should call for private investment in treating urbansolid waste to reduce the State budget on the work,” he said.
Some comments suggest preferential policies for productionestablishments or people who take env𒅌ironmental protection measures.
Thinh said in the next five years, the practical solution torespond effectively to climate change and prevent natural disasters is topromote solutions on resource management.
He recommended investment and comprehensive planning of wastetreatment infrastructure concentrated in big cities, using r🦋ecyclingtechnologies, energy recovery and electricity generation./.
The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Ho Chi Minh City and the UNICEF in Vietnam have jointly launched a campaignto enhance the awareness of environmental protection amonglocal children.
Vietnam, as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, is set to develop a roadmap to implement market-based carbon pricing tools as part of its effort to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Extreme weather conditions are becoming more common in the region and around the world and have greatly affected Vietnam, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha told lawmakers at the National Assembly’s ongoing 10th session in Hanoi on November 5.
The FE Holdings – a subsidiary of JFE Engineering of Japan - has spent 900 million JPY (8.6 million USD) to acquire a 3.87 percent stake in the Binh Duong Water Environment JSC of Vietnam (Biwase).
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
