Strengthening institutional foundations for green growth and sustainable development

Yesterday (October 28), the National Assembly spent a whole day discussing the results of environmental protection monitoring in the hall. The session was televised and broadcast live, attracting the attention and follow-up of voters and people nationwide. Through the passionate comments, going straight to the pressing environmental issues, voters and people nationwide have high expectations that the National Assembly will continue to consolidate a solid institutional foundation for green growth and sustainable development.

Look straight at reality to clarify the problems and shortcomings

Perhaps never before has the environmental issue become as urgent and received such deep attention from society as it is today. Although the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 has come into effect with many innovative and breakthrough ideas, its implementation still has many shortcomings. Pollution issues that directly affect people's lives are still complicated.

Therefore, the plenary discussion on the monitoring results is considered by voters as an opportunity for the National Assembly, in its role as the highest state authority, to clarify the current situation and set out directions for one of the most important pillars of sustainable development. Voter Nguyen Van Nam (Cau Giay ward, Hanoi ) said that he had previously followed and knew that the National Assembly had conducted a very strong monitoring process. The Government's report also pointed out: air pollution in big cities is increasingly severe; surface water pollution has not been thoroughly resolved; the rate of domestic wastewater collected and treated is still low and waste is still mainly buried...

Discussion session on the Report on the results of monitoring the implementation of policies and laws on environmental protection since the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 took effect. Photo: Quang Khanh

From the above reality, voters hope that the National Assembly , the Government, ministries, branches and localities will have an answer to the question: why are new and highly expected policies, such as: classifying solid waste at source; expanded responsibility of manufacturers in collecting and recycling waste generated from their products... not as effective as expected?

Another issue that many voters highly appreciated was that the National Assembly had deeply "dissected" institutional "bottlenecks". "The law is already in place, but why is its implementation still stuck?" - the answer to this reality was given when the Report of the Supervisory Delegation and the Government both assessed that the issuance of legal guidance documents, especially in localities, was still slow. More importantly, the regulations, standards, and norms for the circular economy still did not meet the requirements and did not keep up with technology.

Or the policy of promoting decentralization and delegation of power to localities, especially communes, to carry out environmental management tasks in the context of operating the current two-level local government model. Voter Hoang Anh Tuan (retired cadre in Ho Chi Minh City) analyzed: decentralization is absolutely necessary but must go hand in hand with increased resources and capacity. Communes and wards will find it very difficult to undertake all the complex tasks of environmental management if they are not allocated adequate human resources, equipment, and resources. Voters hope that, through this monitoring topic, the Government must have urgent solutions to strengthen the capacity of communes and wards to avoid overload and reduce the effectiveness of policy implementation.

Expectations met through heartfelt speeches

Following the live discussion yesterday at Dien Hong Hall, what impressed and pleased the majority of voters across the country the most was the serious, frank, and responsible working atmosphere. The delegates "named" the "hot" environmental issues and the prominent shortcomings that people are facing every day.

Concerns about waste, especially the outdated traditional landfill situation, are among the issues that voters are most concerned about. Many voters appreciated the fact that many delegates emphasized the urgent need to research and apply modern, environmentally friendly waste treatment technology to replace landfill.

But voters also clearly see that solutions will be difficult to implement when the question of resources for changing technology and building infrastructure has not been answered. In yesterday's discussion session, voters' concerns were answered when delegates directly addressed this "bottleneck" by suggesting that there must be policies to encourage and promote socialization. According to voter Vu Thanh Long (Ha Hoa commune, Phu Tho province), if the "bottleneck" in the mechanism to attract private investment is removed, and there are clear and transparent incentive policies, not only domestic enterprises but also foreign enterprises will invest in waste treatment.

Voters in some localities also believe that the responsibility of delegates is also reflected in proposing synchronous solutions. From the request to soon apply "charging according to the amount of waste generated" to ensure fairness, to "strictly handling establishments that cause long-term pollution". In particular, the delegates' in-depth examination of management capacity at the grassroots level has touched on voters' biggest concerns about the feasibility of the law.

"The delegate's proposal to clarify the people, the work, the responsibilities and to link it with the inspection and supervision mechanism is key," Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan (retired cadre of Ho Chi Minh City) analyzed. At the same time, he emphasized: this is a voice of responsibility, containing the urgent need to strengthen the enforcement apparatus at the level closest to the people. Only then will the provisions of the law truly come into life.

Expect a "weighty enough" supervisory resolution

From the "diagnosis" in the parliament and the deep harmony between the delegates and the voice of the voters, the people hope that the National Assembly will "prescribe a strong enough medicine" through a supervisory resolution with feasible solutions. Voters highly agree with the proposal to prioritize investment resources from the budget, combined with social mobilization for essential environmental infrastructure projects. Voters expect the National Assembly to urge the Government to soon allow the implementation of a National Target Program on Environmental Protection and Climate Change Response, focusing on urban wastewater treatment, waste treatment infrastructure and river basin restoration.

At the same time, voters expect the National Assembly to request the Government to urgently review and amend the Law on Environmental Protection in 2026; at the same time, synchronously issue technical regulations on the environment, ensuring that they are equivalent to those of developed countries. In particular, it is necessary to complete norms and unit prices so that the principle of "polluters must pay" can truly come into life.

One of the breakthrough solutions that voters are waiting for is promoting green economy and circular economy. With the participation of the National Assembly, the sense of responsibility and efforts of ministries, branches and localities, environmental issues will be placed at the center, on par with the economy and society.

Finally, what voters are interested in and expect will certainly not stop at a heated discussion session, but also the drastic actions that follow to ensure the country's sustainable development. The discussion session in the hall yesterday was a forum to receive dedicated contributions, so that the National Assembly can continue to firmly consolidate the institutional foundation, creating a breakthrough for the transformation towards a green, fair and responsible economy for future generations. That is also the path for Vietnam to develop prosperously and sustainably in the new era. Voters across the country are watching and waiting for decisions from the National Assembly.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/cung-co-nen-mong-the-che-cho-tang-truong-xanh-phat-trien-ben-vung-10393388.html