VietNamNet Bridge – The Cabinet members on Tuesday deliberated on the draft resolution on urgent issues of environmental protection. The move is part of Viet Nam’s effort towards sustainable growth.

Climate change costs Viet Nam US$14 billion yearly.

Urgent issues include quick development of industrial clusters parks without sewage treatment system. As of September, 2012, the country was home to 283 industrial parks and processing zones as well as 878 industrial complexes. However, only 66% of them had water sewage systems.

Weak management of mineral exploitation has led to rising ‘hot’ spots on environmental contamination. Over 90% of mineral production, business and processing facilities violated the regulations on environmental protection, according to the General Anti-Crime Police Department.

Over 4000 cases were detected between 2007 and 2012. In the first half of 2012, the environmental police forces discovered 2,117 cases.

Solid and medical wastes have yet been collected and treated completely. Untreated waste water, exhaust fumes, transport dust and construction waste have caused serious pollution in big cities and rivers.

In addition, agricultural waste and rubbish in rural areas have not been treated in a hygiene manner. Meanwhile, overuse of fertilizers and pesticides have worsen rural environment.  

Other pressing issues are the imports of outdated technologies and waste and threatened domestic biodiversity.
Under the draft document, each year, the Government plans to allocate at least 1% of budget spending for environmental protection.

According to the report, every year climate change costs Viet Nam 5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), equivalent to US$14 billion of the 2010’s GDP of US$280 billion recorded by DARA.

The total economic cost was forecast to rise to 11% in 2030, which might equal to US$165 of the estimated US$1.5 trillion GDP. Viet Nam is assessed as having acute multi-dimensional climate vulnerability.

Every year, due to climate change, production cost rises US$8 billion, the fishery sector incurs a US$1.5 billion damage, agriculture loses US$0.5 billion, flooding and landslides cause damage of US$200 million and US$150 million arises as costs for cooling due to rising temperatures.

The report addressed Labor Productivity as the most significant impact of climate change on Viet Nam, and also globally, especially in relation to heat stress, resulting in over 4% GDP in 2010 and up to 8.6% GDP in 2030.

To cope with the threat, the country has attached importance to perfecting the legal system, improving people’s awareness, incorporating environmental norms to socio-economic development plans.

The National Assembly passed the National Target Program to overcome pollution and improve environment in 2012-2015.

Source: VGP