Attending the Forum were: Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department; Mr. Le Cong Thanh, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment; representatives from the Central Propaganda Department, the Press Department ( Ministry of Information and Communications ), leaders of several units under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, economic experts, strategists and policy consultants, along with 200 delegates including leaders of press agencies, business leaders, and management agencies from several provinces/cities nationwide.
A green economy is an economy that emits less carbon, minimizes environmental damage, and conserves natural resources. Based on this foundation, the green economy establishes a framework for integrating economic activities with environmental and resource protection. Vietnam's national climate change strategy for the period up to 2050 affirms the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to a net-zero target by 2050, making a positive and responsible contribution to the international community in protecting the Earth's climate system. Vietnam will leverage opportunities arising from climate change adaptation to shift its growth model and enhance the resilience and competitiveness of its economy.
In the National Green Growth Strategy for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the Government has set the following targets: Emission intensity per GDP will decrease by at least 15% by 2030 compared to 2014, and by at least 30% by 2050. The rate of urban solid waste collected and treated in accordance with regulations will reach 95% by 2030. The rate of urban wastewater collected and treated in accordance with regulations will exceed 50% for cities of type II and above, and 20% for other urban types.
In his opening remarks at the forum, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh shared: Recently, the business community's understanding of sustainable business and reducing environmental emissions has significantly improved. Many businesses have adopted green business practices as a strategy and competitive advantage. Many economic groups and large enterprises have also quickly joined in, promoting green transformation to address climate change and develop a low-carbon economy, aiming for the Net Zero goal.
However, this change has mainly occurred in large enterprises and foreign-invested enterprises, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for a significant number, have not received adequate attention and have not shown clear progress. Therefore, in the coming period, businesses need to be determined to make a strong transformation, especially by improving their understanding and awareness of their responsibilities in protecting the environment and responding to climate change, and grasping relevant regulations both domestically and internationally.
This practical experience shows that we need strong policies to concretize the view that "investing in the environment is investing in sustainable development"; while simultaneously mobilizing social resources and the support of the international community. Accordingly, a new system of perspectives and thinking will be proposed to meet the context of the vision until 2050. The overarching perspective is that the State plays a creative and leading role, with businesses and citizens as the central and implementing subjects, along with the participation of socio-political organizations.
Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh stated that the Forum "Managers - Journalists - Businesses with Resources and Environment," organized by the Resources and Environment Newspaper, has become an annual event and a platform for stakeholders to share and exchange ideas on important areas and pressing issues in the resources and environment sector.
With each edition, the Forum has received increasing attention and participation from many managers at both the central and local levels, leaders of news agencies and media outlets, and the business community and entrepreneurs.
“At today’s Forum, all contributions and suggestions from delegates will be studied and incorporated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to serve the task of amending, supplementing, and perfecting policies and laws on natural resources and the environment. The common goal is to protect the environment, use natural resources economically and efficiently, proactively adapt to climate change, and contribute to fulfilling Vietnam’s commitments at COP26,” Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh emphasized, and requested that each delegate act as an ambassador to effectively spread and convey the message of green, clean, and sustainable transformation and development.
Following the success of previous forums, the 8th Forum on "Managers - Journalists - Businesses with Resources and Environment" – 2024, with the theme "Green Economy - Producer Responsibility," will focus on issues related to green development in businesses: Responsibilities and obstacles hindering businesses from practicing sustainable development; discussions on policy frameworks to support green businesses, as well as the role of the media in accompanying, promoting, and accelerating the green transformation of the economy in terms of both policy and business operations.
The 2020 Environmental Protection Law stipulates that manufacturers and importers have two responsibilities: (1) Responsibility for recycling products and packaging - applicable to products and packaging with recycling value (Article 54) and (2) Responsibility for collecting and treating waste - applicable to products and packaging containing toxic substances, difficult to recycle, and causing difficulties in waste collection and treatment (Article 55).
Accordingly, green economic and production sectors will gradually limit the generation of large amounts of waste, pollution, and environmental degradation; develop green technologies and management and control systems for production activities based on best practices to conserve resources, reduce emissions, and improve the ecological environment.
The forum consisted of two sessions. The discussion session: Green Economy - The Responsibility of Producers featured speakers including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tho, Director of the Institute of Strategy, Policy and Resources and Environment; Mr. Tran Quang Dung, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrovietnam); and Ms. Chu Thi Kim Thanh, Operations Director of the Vietnam Packaging Recycling Alliance – PROVIETNAM. Each opinion contributed to creating a comprehensive picture of green economic development in Vietnam, from practical realities to policies, as well as the role of businesses and producers in building a low-emission economy that aligns with the "rules of the game" of global climate change.
The panel discussion "The Path to a Green Goal" featured speakers including: Dr. Le Xuan Nghia, Finance and Banking Expert, Member of the National Financial and Monetary Policy Advisory Council; Dr. Bui Duc Hieu, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Journalist Le Xuan Trung, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre Newspaper - Standing Deputy Head of the Green Media Hub; Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Minh, Head of Technical Department, Ford Vietnam Factory; Mr. Nguyen Cong Luan, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Gas Corporation (PV GAS)... During the panel discussion, speakers focused on discussing existing policy shortcomings, weaknesses of businesses, and the role of the media in providing solutions for the economy's journey towards a green goal, as well as solutions to overcome these bottlenecks.
Notably, at this year's Forum, for the first time, the Green Media Hub of the Vietnam Journalists Association, led by journalist Le Xuan Trung - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre newspaper and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Club, called for and inspired journalists to actively participate in the First Green Media Hub Journalism Award (2023-2025)... This is also a practical action by the press to accompany and promote the whole society, with businesses playing a core role, towards the green goal of the future economy...
Vietnam has achieved many successes in green transformation and green economic development. A prime example is the positive energy transition, with renewable energy accounting for approximately 27.1% of total capacity and 13.7% of output in the national power system. Compared to the targets set in Resolution No. 55-NQ/TW (15-20% by 2030 and 25-30% by 2045), the capacity of renewable energy sources is achievable.
The digital economy's share of Vietnam's GDP reached 16.5% by the end of 2023. Green credit has grown by 20% annually since 2017 and accounted for nearly 4.5% of the economy's outstanding loans in 2023. Between 2019 and 2023, Vietnam issued approximately US$1.16 billion in green bonds.
In 2023, Vietnam successfully sold 10.3 million carbon credits through the World Bank (WB), earning $51.5 million; in 2022, the country had approximately 240,000 hectares of organic farming (compared to only 77,000 hectares in 2016); 59 out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide implemented organic agriculture…
These results show that, despite being a developing country, Vietnam has proactively integrated into the development trends of the times. It has been promoting a rapid transition to a green economy, digital economy, knowledge-based economy, and circular economy, while consistently adhering to the overarching principle of sustainable development and rejecting growth at all costs.
Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/dien-dan-nha-quan-ly-nha-bao-doanh-nghiep-voi-tai-nguyen-va-moi-truong-kinh-te-xanh-va-trach-nhiem-cua-nha-san-xuat-375999.html
Comment (0)