Low-carbon growth becomes a target in socio-economic development plans

On the morning of December 10th, with 442 National Assembly delegates voting in favor, representing 93.45% of the total number of delegates, the National Assembly passed the draft Resolution on the results of the thematic supervision of "The implementation of policies and laws on environmental protection since the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 came into effect".

Secretary General and Head of the National Assembly Office Le Quang Manh reports at the session. Photo: QUANG PHUC

Presenting the report on the revisions and amendments to the draft resolution before the National Assembly's vote, Secretary General and Head of the National Assembly Office Le Quang Manh stated that the resolution requires a thorough understanding of the viewpoint that spending on the environment is an investment in development, ensuring environmental security, while rejecting the view that environmental protection hinders economic growth.

Notably, the resolution added a target for low-carbon growth to the national development indicator system and socio-economic development plan. The resolution also stated that a Climate Change Law would be studied and developed to fully institutionalize policies on climate change adaptation and carbon neutrality.

Delegates attending the meeting on the morning of December 10. Photo: QUANG PHÚC

According to Mr. Le Quang Manh, the resolution clearly states that amending the Law on Environmental Protection is an urgent matter to unlock resources and promote socio-economic development, especially amending regulations on the roadmap and timeframe for applying the policy on sorting solid household waste to suit practical requirements.

Another important aspect of the resolution is promoting the economic development of the environment by establishing mechanisms for valuing resources, paying for ecosystem services, and improving the effectiveness of environmental taxes and fees based on the principle that those who benefit from the environment have an obligation to contribute financially, while polluters must pay for damages, remediation, and treatment.

To ensure resources for environmental protection, the National Assembly resolved to allocate sufficient and appropriate funds, manage them effectively, and gradually increase budget spending on environmental protection in line with economic growth, ensuring that from 2027 onwards, the proportion of budget spending on environmental protection in the total state budget expenditure will increase compared to 2025.

Some specific goals regarding the urban environment.

• The goal is to achieve a rate of approximately 70% of domestic wastewater collected and treated in urban areas of type 1 and above by 2030.

• The resolution aims to reduce the average annual PM2.5 concentration in Hanoi by approximately 20% by 2030 compared to the 2024 average, and by at least 10% in the provinces surrounding Hanoi. Simultaneously, the resolution calls for the immediate implementation of urgent measures to control, prevent, and remedy air pollution in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

• Transition to advanced, environmentally friendly technologies for treating municipal solid waste, prioritizing recycling and combined energy recovery treatment instead of landfilling; striving to reduce the percentage of municipal solid waste treated by direct landfilling compared to the amount of collected waste to below 50% by 2030.

MR. PHUONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tang-truong-carbon-thap-tro-thanh-chi-tieu-trong-ke-hoach-phat-trien-kinh-te-xa-hoi-post827838.html