Hanoi (VNA)🐓 - As climate change is causing environmental degradation, it is leading to ecological imbalance, biodiversity loss, and water depletion. Thus ministries, sectors, localities, organisations, and especially the community need to join hands responsibly to protect water resources and develop measures for preventing, responding to, and mitigating disaster risks and adapting to climate change, said Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh.

Imprints of Vietnam’s green action

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on March 22 to honor World Water Day (March 22), the World Meteorological Day (March 23), and the Earth Hour campaign 2024. At the ceremony, Deputy Minister Thanh emphasised that Vietnam is blessed with diverse natural resources. However, population growth, urbanisation, environmental degradation, and climate change have caused ecological imbalance, biodiversity loss, and water depletion. This year, the theme of World Water Day is “Water for Peace”, the World Meteorological Day “At the Frontline of Climate Action”, and the Earth Hour campaign “Reducing Carbon Footprint – Towards Net Zero”. They are closely connected with one another to call for the community’s attention to enhance water resource protection measures and improving hydro-meteorological forecasting capacity and quality. In particular, it is necessary to promote digital transformation, utilize technology in the hydro-meteorological sector, and boost efficient energy use for a sustainable future of the planet and humankind on the path to net zero emissions, he emphasised. He noted that the National Assembly recently approved the 2023 Law on Water Resources, marking great strides in the mindset, approach, and methodology of water resources management. Regarding the field of hydro-meteorology, Vietnam has been perfecting policies and legal regulations on climate change response. Thanh added that to ramp up efforts to realise the Sustainable Development Goals, as a representative of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in Asia, it has also been building and implementing policies while actively cooperating with international partners in climate change response and adaptation. At the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), the country announced a resource mobilisation plan for implementing the Political Declaration on establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). Vietnam has announced strong commitments to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, shifting to renewable energy, and boosting innovation in science - technology towards net zero emissions. The abovementioned declaration once again affirms the national development aspiration and vision of the Vietnamese Party, State, and Government and also reflects the country’s sense of responsibility towards the international community, the official underlined.

Taking joint action for sustainable future

Deputy Minister Thanh asked ministries, sectors, agencies, local administrations, organisations, individuals, and enterprises to join hands in taking practical climate action for the sake of a green economy and a sustainable future. He requested localities keep updated with the Party and State’s new viewpoints, guidelines, and policies on natural resources management, environmental protection, and climate change response. He also pointed out the need to align domestic regulations with the international treaties and agreements to which Vietnam is a party. Stakeholders need to actively work together to develop the national database on natural resources and the environment, and enhance the capacity and modernize the monitoring and forecasting system. Units should also apply artificial intelligence technology, and mobilise resources for investing in and building structures and projects related to environment, water resources, hydro-meteorology, and the fight against natural disasters and climate change. Localities should also push ahead with the resource mobilisation plan for the JETP, boost guidance for inventorying GHG emissions, assess the GHG emission reduction progress, and devise carbon market development and climate change response measures. In addition, they need to step up disseminating the Law on Water Resources, the national master plan on water resources, integrated master plans of river basins, and ways for efficient water storage and use. Plans and projects also need to be built and carried out to promote the protection and sustainable exploitation and use of water resources. Thanh also appealed to stakeholders within the community to adopt a green lifestyle, raise public awareness of energy and water efficiency, and say no to illegal consumption of wildlife products. Following the ceremony, the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration held a symposium on the application of modern technology to hydro-meteorological forecasting and warnings to serve disaster mitigation and climate change response./.