Attending the launching ceremony were Mr. Phan Van Hung, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly; Mr. Van Ngoc Thinh, Director of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Vietnam; leaders of units under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment ; representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, embassies of countries in Vietnam; representatives of central ministries, departments, branches, and organizations; representatives of leaders of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of provinces and cities and many press agencies.
Vietnam is known as a country with diverse and abundant natural resources. However, in the context of population growth, urbanization and environmental degradation, climate change has become the leading factors causing ecological imbalance, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion, including water resources.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment said that the themes of World Water Day "Water for Peace ", World Meteorological Day "Meteorology and Hydrology Pioneer in Responding to Climate Change" and Earth Hour Campaign "Reducing Carbon Footprint - Towards Net Zero" in 2024 are closely linked, thereby calling for the attention of the community to strengthen solutions, build plans, strategies, and actions for climate, focusing on the importance of water resources for the stability and prosperity of the world; enhance the capacity and quality of hydrometeorological warning and forecasting, especially promoting digital transformation, applying high technology in the field of hydrometeorology; spreading the use of energy saving for the sustainable future of the planet and humanity on the journey towards NetZero.
Responding to World Water Day, World Meteorological Day and Earth Hour Campaign 2024, on behalf of the leaders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh respectfully requests ministries, branches, central agencies, local authorities, organizations, individuals and businesses to take practical actions, join hands to act for the climate, towards a green economy , circular economy, creating a great spread throughout society for a sustainable future.
In particular, reviewing, updating, and institutionalizing new viewpoints, guidelines, and policies of the Party and State on resource management, environmental protection, and climate change response; institutionalizing and internalizing the contents of international treaties and agreements that Vietnam has participated in; Continuing to propagate and disseminate the Law on Water Resources No. 28/2023/QH15, the National Water Resources Planning and the Integrated River Basin Planning, especially the implementation of measures to store water, use water economically and effectively; Developing plans and organizing the implementation of tasks and projects to strengthen the protection, exploitation, and sustainable use of water resources.
Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh called for the attention of all levels, sectors, localities, organizations, businesses and the community to practice a green and healthy lifestyle, raise people's and community's sense of responsibility in using energy economically, and say no to illegal consumption and use of wild animals.
In the long term, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh suggested that agencies build national database systems on natural resources and environment (land, water, climate, minerals, energy, etc.); enhance capacity, modernize monitoring and forecasting systems; apply artificial intelligence technology, effectively operate forecasting and early warning systems, reduce natural disaster risks, serve socio-economic development, ensure national defense and security to meet the requirements of building and protecting the Fatherland.
At the same time, mobilize investment resources, construct and hand over works and projects in the fields of environment, water resources, hydrometeorology, natural disaster prevention and climate change; enhance green solutions and renewable energy projects to address global issues of climate, food security, water security, biodiversity and people's livelihoods, serving socio-economic development.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Van Ngoc Thinh, Director of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Vietnam, said that today, humanity is witnessing extreme weather phenomena such as heat waves, prolonged droughts, and floods with increasing frequency. These are the main causes of the increasingly serious water resource crisis everywhere. Accordingly, when people do not have equal access to water or are unable to access fresh water, conflicts can arise between communities, localities, and even countries.
Therefore, according to Mr. Van Ngoc Thinh, to solve these existential crises and challenges, there is no other way but to join hands and contribute from all of us, from the national level to everyone around the world.
As one of the world's largest international organizations for nature conservation, WWF has recently committed to working with the Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in efforts to address the three biggest global challenges related to the environment today: Climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss. On this occasion, on behalf of WWF, Mr. Van Ngoc Thinh reaffirmed his commitment to continue working with the Government to support and cooperate in implementing international commitments to achieve the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at COP15; cooperate to promote the pioneering role in global and regional efforts and initiatives on water conservation;...
Also at the launching ceremony, on behalf of the leadership of the Department of Water Resources Management, Mr. Nguyen Minh Khuyen, Deputy Director of the Department, introduced the new points of the Law on Water Resources 2023, which was passed by the National Assembly on November 27, 2023 at the 6th Session of the 15th National Assembly. Accordingly, the Law on Water Resources consists of 10 chapters and 86 articles, focusing on 4 groups of policies: Ensuring water security; socialization of the water sector; water resources economy; protecting water resources, preventing and combating harmful effects caused by water and amending and supplementing a number of other policies...
Regarding the new points, Mr. Nguyen Minh Khuyen said that the Law stipulates management principles, including the principle of "ensuring water security so that all people can access and use water fairly and reasonably; and stipulates State policies, including "incentives for investment projects to exploit water for daily life and production for people in areas with scarce fresh water, ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, border areas, islands, areas with especially difficult socio-economic conditions; creating conditions for access to domestic water for the poor, women, children, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups".
At the same time, the Law also clearly stipulates the state management responsibilities of ministries and branches on water resources in order to clearly assign and decentralize the state management responsibilities on water resources and water sources with the state management responsibilities on planning, construction, and operation of irrigation works, hydroelectricity, urban water supply, and rural water supply. Amend and supplement regulations to resolve overlaps, conflicts, and loopholes in laws, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management on water resources, etc.
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