The National Environmental Protection Strategy until 2030, vision to 2050, approved in April 2022, emphasizes the necessity for environmental protection and presents strategies to actively prevent negative impacts on the environment and increase climate resilience. One of its strategic tasks is a phase-out of single-use plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic bags until 2025 respectively 2030.
The strategy outlines a vision to 2050 to ensure a high quality environment and conservation of biodiversity with a green circular economy and development towards climate neutrality. Main priority for environmental protection includes pollution control, dealing with environmental issues, improving environmental quality, conserving biodiversity, and responding to climate change. To achieve this vision, the objectives until 2030 were set to prevent the increasing trend of environmental degradation and biodiversity loss while improving the capacity for climate mitigation and adaptation.
To actively prevent the negative impacts on the environment, the strategy pinpoints important tasks to promote green growth and effective control of activities with high risk of environmental pollution. A transition to growth models that harmonize socio-economic development and environmental protection is necessary. Targets of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration are aligned with the National Strategy for Biodiversity and Forestry Development with emphasis on the protection of mangrove forests, coral reefs, seagrass beds, wetlands and natural forests.
Air quality, solid waste and waste water management in urban areas along with sea pollution control are the major environmental issues that require special measures. The strategy sets to improve air quality, especially in urban areas, through promotion of public transport and MRT, usage of green vehicles and the ban of coal in daily urban activities, among others. In terms of solid waste management, a circular economy must be implemented for an efficient collection, reuse, and recycling system, following thephased ban of single-use plastics by 2025 respectively 2030. Wastewater management is prioritized for river basins and restoration of lakes and canals in major urban cities including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city.
Climate adaptation and mitigation measures were integrated into the strategy to reduce climate vulnerability and improve resilience to climate change. Further assessment of climate impacts and risks is necessary to successfully integrate EbA and NbA solutions along with measures to preserve biodiversity in response to climate change. The strategy also promotes the transition away from fossil fuels towards clean and renewable energy for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions along with development of circular economy and low-carbon economy models.
The strategy also recommends specific solutions for implementation of the above objectives and tasks. Specific focus was set on the development for an efficient policy and legal system with revision of the Law on Biodiversity from 2008, Law on Marine Resources, Environment and Islands from 2015 and guidance for implementation and enforcement of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. Development for new policies on environmental services, carbon trading and biodiversity offsets were also mentioned but without specific guidelines and implementation measures.
