Monitoring the implementation of policies and laws on environmental protection: Perfecting policies to support the transition to a green economy

*Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan speaks at the meeting. Photo: Pham Thang*

Dealing with the past, preventing the present and developing sustainably in the future

At the meeting between the National Assembly's Supervisory Delegation and the Government, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang, on behalf of the Government, proposed that the National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee support the proposal to add the Party's viewpoints on environmental protection in the Documents of the 14th National Party Congress. In which, the position and role of environmental protection in sustainable development is clearly affirmed, placed on par with the economy and society, considering these as three central pillars; at the same time, environmental indicators are developed to assess the quality and effectiveness of the socio-economic development process associated with the goal of environmental protection.

Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang speaks at the meeting. Photo: Pham Thang

At the same time, the National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee will consider and direct the continued review and amendment of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval in 2026, prioritizing the reduction of administrative procedures, strengthening decentralization and delegation of power to localities according to the principle of "locality decides, locality does, locality is responsible", promoting the development of a green, circular, low-carbon economy, investing in natural capital, and maximizing social resources for environmental protection.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized the need to supplement the Party's viewpoints on environmental protection in the documents of the 14th National Party Congress, clearly affirming the role and position of environmental protection in sustainable development, placing it on par with socio-economic development, considering it as the three central pillars; at the same time, building environmental indicators to assess the quality and effectiveness of the socio-economic development process associated with the goal of environmental protection.

*Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks at the meeting. Photo: Pham Thang*

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said that this is the first time Vietnam has put the environment at the center along with the economy and society, following international practices on sustainable development with 17 groups of United Nations indicators.

The Deputy Prime Minister proposed that the Central Committee issue a new Resolution on national development according to a green, circular, low-carbon economic model, so that the environment does not lag behind the economy but is closely linked to each step of development, while creating new economic sectors such as industry and environmental services.

The Deputy Prime Minister also proposed, “The law on environmental protection needs to clarify three stages: handling past existence, preventing present problems, and preserving and developing sustainably in the future; along with a comprehensive set of indicators to assess the national and local environment.”

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, we need to continue to strengthen the apparatus, focus on training environmental human resources; consider environmental protection as the responsibility of the State, businesses and people; thereby, creating a foundation to form green urban areas, ecological rural areas, and circular industrial zones, contributing to the country's sustainable development.

*Delegates attending the meeting. Photo: Pham Thang*

Urgently propose breakthrough solutions to control pollution

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan acknowledged the Government's proposals and said that in the coming time, it is necessary to continue perfecting the legal system on environmental protection .

Accordingly, proactively research and promptly institutionalize the Party's viewpoints and policies on environmental protection and climate change response in the documents of the 14th Party Congress, especially the report of the Central Executive Committee.

At the same time, continue to resolutely implement the viewpoints, goals, tasks and solutions stated in the Resolution of the 11th Central Committee, Session 7, on proactively responding to climate change, strengthening resource management and environmental protection, Conclusion No. 56-KL/TW dated August 23, 2019 and Conclusion No. 81-KL/TW dated June 4, 2024 of the Politburo on continuing to implement the Resolution of the 11th Central Committee, Session 7, promptly institutionalizing the "four pillar resolutions" in the process of perfecting the legal system on environmental protection. Complete guiding documents and detailed regulations for effective implementation of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection, meeting the requirements of building a two-level local government.

The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly emphasized that the Government urgently studies and proposes to amend and supplement a number of articles of the Law on Environmental Protection to promptly remove a number of difficulties, obstacles and inadequacies.

The Government continues to review and improve mechanisms and policies for investment in developing environmental protection projects and adapting to climate change; monitoring and improving air quality in large cities and water quality in river basins. Prioritizing investment resources from the budget combined with mobilizing socialized resources for environmental protection, especially in the treatment of domestic solid waste and domestic wastewater; promptly overcoming limitations and inadequacies in the allocation and use of environmental career funding sources.

Focus on perfecting policies to support the transition to a green economy, a circular economy, a low-carbon economy; regulations on carbon credit management, domestic and international carbon credit exchange activities on the basis of protecting immediate and long-term national interests, avoiding future consequences. Establish a national carbon credit registration system, manage programs, projects, activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create carbon credits to serve pilot implementation and development of the domestic carbon market, and exchange with international partners.

The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly stated that in the immediate future, it is necessary to continue to effectively and efficiently implement the management tools and measures in the spirit of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. Improve the effectiveness of pollution prevention and control management and waste management. Key and urgent environmental issues must be fundamentally resolved; environmental quality must be gradually improved and restored; capacity to adapt to climate change must be enhanced, and greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced.

The Government directs the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to closely coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to promote the implementation of assigned tasks in strategies, plans, projects and proposals on environmental protection approved by competent authorities.

At the same time, urgently review, adjust and complete environmental goals and targets to strive to achieve in 2025, the period 2026-2030. Urgently propose breakthrough tasks and solutions to control pollution and improve environmental quality. Develop reasonable plans and roadmaps to increase investment in technical infrastructure, invest in increasing air and water quality monitoring stations.

Promote the application of science and technology, promote digital transformation, in which priority is given to building and perfecting environmental databases, ensuring publicity, synchronization, modernity, connection, integration and sharing. Strengthen information, propaganda, education, raise awareness, promote replication of good models and examples of environmental protection, promote the mass movement, each organization and individual has awareness and acts together to protect the environment, respond to climate change, and use environmentally friendly products.

"The Government should study and launch a movement to eliminate temporary landfills and collection points for solid waste that pollute the environment. Protecting the landscape and living environment is protecting the health of each of us," the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly suggested.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/giam-sat-viec-thuc-hien-chinh-sach-phap-luat-ve-bao-ve-moi-truong-hoan-thien-chinh-sach-ho-tro-chuyen-doi-sang-nen-kinh-te-xanh-10388805.html