New environment law views people, businesses as crucial players in environmental protection
The 2020 Law on Environmental Protection, taking effect on January 1 this year, is expected to create substantial changes to people’s awareness and promote businesses’ action in this issue.
Workers sort waste at a waste treatment factory. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The 2020 Lawon Environmental Protection, taking effect on January 1 this year, is expectedto create substantial changes to people’s awareness and promote businesses’action in this issue.
Nguyen Hung Thinh, Deputy GeneralDirector of the Vietnam Environment Administration at the Ministry of NaturalResources and Environment, said this is the first time communities have beendefined as a stakeholder in environmental protection. With this rule, the lawis expected to help further bring into play the role of communities in environmentalprotection by encouraging their solidarity, mutual assistance, creativity, andinitiatives in this regard.
To facilitate communities’performance of their role, the law clarifies their rights and responsibilities,as well as the State’s support for their participation in environmentalprotection. In particular, it includes a regulation on the establishment ofonline systems for receiving, handling, and replying to opinions aboutenvironmental protection from organisations, individuals, and communities. Suchsystems will also enable people to monitor environment-related activities.
Young people take part in an environmental cleanup programme. (Photo: VNA)
Besides, Thinh added, the law alsostrongly changes the environmental management mindset by institutionalising thepolicy of promoting development based on laws of nature and not exchanging theenvironment for economic growth. Resources and management tools will beutilised to control about 20 percent of the big pollution sources.
Meanwhile, the law also backs thereform spirit in enterprises by encouraging environmentally friendly productionactivities, he went on, noting that environmental authorities will apply an appropriatemanagement mechanism for each project.
For example, only projects with highrisks of environmental pollution need to conduct environmental impactassessment. Those using advanced and eco-friendly technology will be licensedright in the stage of feasibility study and examined after they becomeoperational, and they can register their environment-related aspects onlinewith communal-level People’s Committees.
Thinh said a message of the 2020 Lawon Environmental Protection is that people and businesses form an integral partof the environment, and that staying proactive and responsible for the environmentalso means ensuring people’s life quality and businesses’ sustainable development./.
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Workers sort waste at a waste treatment factory. (Photo: VNA) 
Young people take part in an environmental cleanup programme. (Photo: VNA) 
