Sustainable development is impossible if the environment is only considered as a "risk barrier"

Delegate Nguyen Ngoc Son (Hai Phong) is worried that achieving the double-digit growth target in the coming time will put great pressure on the environment, while Delegate Nguyen Quang Huan (Ho Chi Minh City) has a different opinion.

Delegate Nguyen Ngoc Son ( Hai Phong ) spoke at the hall on the morning of October 28. Photo: QUANG PHUC

Continuing the meeting program, on the morning of October 28, discussing in the hall after listening to the report of the National Assembly 's Supervisory Delegation on the implementation of policies and laws on environmental protection (EP) since the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection came into effect, delegate Nguyen Ngoc Son (Hai Phong) acknowledged that the supervision report pointed out many hot issues and made many valuable recommendations, which is a step to summarize and evaluate the actual effectiveness of the implementation of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.

"In the context of having to achieve the growth target of 8-10%/year, attract FDI investment, and strongly industrialize..., the new term must face a big problem: developing without destroying the environment. This monitoring result is a warning and orientation for the next term, avoiding falling into the "trade-off cycle" like many emerging countries have fallen into," the delegate emphasized.

Based on this assessment, Deputy Nguyen Ngoc Son suggested that the Government stick to the double-digit growth target from 2026 to have appropriate solutions. “I think that achieving this growth target will put great pressure on the environment, because high growth requires increased exploitation of resources, energy, industrial production, logistics, and infrastructure construction. Therefore, if not strictly controlled, it will cause pollution outbreaks, ecosystem degradation, public health crises, and increased remediation costs,” Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Son worried.

According to Deputy Nguyen Ngoc Son, high-quality foreign investment (FDI) only comes to places with clear environmental standards. Apple, Samsung, Lego, Nike, Panasonic... all set ESG (a comprehensive set of standards for assessing environmental protection of enterprises) as a prerequisite when deciding to invest. The LEGO project (1 billion USD) only invested because of its commitment to "100% renewable electricity and water circulation system".

View of Dien Hong hall. Photo: VIET CHUNG

“Without clear and consistent environmental standards, Vietnam will be excluded from the global green supply chain, even with cheap labor. Therefore, a transparent environment is an “institutional infrastructure” that attracts investment, not a cost barrier. The environment itself is the driving force for innovation and domestic technology enterprises. We do not wait for technology to protect the environment, but the environment itself will create demand for technology,” said Deputy Nguyen Ngoc Son.

Basically agreeing and highly appreciating the responsible comments and recommendations of Deputy Nguyen Ngoc Son, Deputy Nguyen Quang Huan (HCMC) did not agree with the viewpoint of considering the speed of economic growth. According to Deputy Nguyen Quang Huan, if we continue to develop the economy linearly, it is true that development must be paid for by the environment, but if we follow the right direction of green development, we will not have to trade the environment for growth but will also actively contribute to environmental protection.

Delegate Nguyen Quang Huan (HCMC) debates. Photo: QUANG PHUC

Sharing the same viewpoint on green economic development, Deputy Trinh Thi Tu Anh (Lam Dong) also proposed focusing on developing environmental industry; at the same time implementing circular economy through changing production - consumption models, helping to reduce emissions, reduce pressure on resources and waste treatment.

Another issue that many deputies are concerned about is the regulation on waste classification at source. Deputy Hoang Quoc Khanh (Lai Chau) commented that this regulation has been in effect since December 31, 2024, but in reality it has not been seriously implemented. In addition, plastic waste is still arising in large quantities and remaining in the environment, despite the fact that Vietnam has set a goal of completely replacing non-degradable plastic packaging in supermarkets by 2025, moving towards eliminating these products.

MR. PHUONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/khong-the-phat-trien-ben-vung-neu-chi-coi-moi-truong-la-chot-chan-rui-ro-post820347.html