Japan shares experiences to help Vietnam develop circular economy roadmap
A workshop took place in Hanoi on July 6 to share Japan’s experiences and policy suggestions for Vietnam in developing a roadmap to implement circular economy.
The workshop on "Japan’s experiences and policy suggestions for Vietnam in developing a roadmap to implement circular economy" takes place in Hanoi on July 6. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – A workshop took place in Hanoi on July 6 to share Japan’s experiences and policy suggestions for Vietnam in developinga roadmap to implement circular economy.
It was co-held by the Institute of Policy and Strategy inNatural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE), the Japan InternationalCooperation Agency (JICA) and Japanese engineering consultancy Nippon KoeiVietnam International (NKV), aiming to provide a rationale for developing anational action plan on circular economy in Vietnam.
Hosono Tomoyuki, who leads a group of JICA/NKV researchers,shared the outcomes of JICA’s Survey on Circular Economy (CE) in Vietnam whichstarted in January. He said its main objective is to collect basic informationabout CE in Vietnam and Japan, analyse the structure of regulatory frameworkfor CE in Vietnam and Japan’s vision for CE, and review basic plans for the constructionof a sound material-cycle society.
It also intends to provide recommendations on a draftframework of the national action plan on CE based on practices in Japan andother countries regionally and globally, he added.
The concept of a circular economy has been around in Japansince 1999 in an effort to address environmental and natural resourcechallenges to the country’s sustainable development in the 21st century,for example, minimizing landfills and preventing future exhaustion of natural resources.
Lai Van Manh from ISPONRE gave attendees an overview of thepotential draft of the action plan, saying ministries and provincialadministrations must incorporate circular economy into their strategy, planning,programmes and projects since the drafting stage and promote the management, recyclingand reuse of waste.
Businesses should be required to take measures to reduce relianceon natural resources, cut disposal of solid waste and accelerate recycling anduse of waste throughout the development and distribution of their products, hesaid, adding that the government must introduce requirements, a roadmap andincentives for the implementation of circularly economy, relevant to Vietnam’ssituation.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources hascrafted the national action plan on CE which is scheduled to be released beforeDecember 31, 2023./.
As the amount of plastic waste from Vietnamese is rising quickly, many projects are being implemented in collaboration with international organisations to reduce plastic waste.
The ASEAN Secretariat, in collaboration with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), have held the Multi-Stakeholder Policy Dialogue on Empowering ASEAN For Circular Economy online.
A workshop recently took place in Quy Nhon city, central Binh Dinh province, to discuss the improvement of awareness in plastic waste collection and recycling to promote the circular economy in Vietnam.
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.
The workshop on "Japan’s experiences and policy suggestions for Vietnam in developing a roadmap to implement circular economy" takes place in Hanoi on July 6. (Photo: VNA)
