Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has activelyparticipated in environmental protection activities in response to the Earth Day(April 22), and is striving to save energy, which is expected to help cutbudget spending and keeping fossil fuels for future generations.

Earth Day, an event to increase public awareness ofthe world’s environmental problems, is celebrated in the US for the first timeon April 22, 1970. The United Nations General Assembly designated April 22 as the InternationalMother Earth Day (popularly known as Earth Day) in a resolution adopted in2009.

Fossil fuels are hydrocarbon compounds such as coal,natural gas, and oil. They are formed by the anaerobic decomposition of buriedancient organisms. Generally, coal forms from land sediments and natural gasand oil, from marine.

Petroleum, coal, natural gas and orimulsion are thefour fossil fuel types. They are classified as non-renewable resources becausethey take millions of years to form, and reserves are being exhausted muchfaster than new ones are being formed.

The burning of fossil fuels produces around 21.3billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, and it is estimatedthat natural processes can absorb  only about half of that amount, so there is anet increase of 10.65 billion tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year.

Vietnam and the globe at large are running out offossil fuels. At the current rates of production, it is predictedthat oil will run out in 53 years, natural gas in 55, and coal in 113. In Vietnam,the fossil fuels will last for only about 34 years, 63 years and four years,respectively.

Given this, Vietnam and other countries are working radicallyto save fossil fuels and use alternative energy sources.

The Southeast Asian nation is importing petrol and itis the fact that changes of the world market have profoundly affected the domesticeconomy.

Last year, Vietnam spent 4.41 billion USD to import 9.69 million tonnes ofpetrol, down 15.5 percent in volume but up 24.6 percentin value as compared with the previous year.

Customs statistics show that in March, Vietnam's petrol import reached 1.31 million tonnes valued at 1.36 billionUSD, month-on-month increases of 75 percent in volume and 114.8 percent invalue.  

In the first quarter of this year, the volume was2.66 million tonnes worth 2.45 billion USD, up 26.8 percent and 128.5 percentyear-on-year, respectively.

International organisations and experts forecastthat Vietnam’s energy demand will expand 15 times by 2050 and carbon emissionsfrom energy consumption will increase 26 times from 2000.

Therefore, Vietnam will face a serious energyshortage if the country does not adopt sustainable energy development policiesin a timely fashion, they warned.

The 12th National Assembly (NA) issued Legal Document No. 50/2010/QH12 on economical and efficient use of energy, which tookeffect from January 1, 2011, aiming to raise rights, obligations and responsibilityof organisations, households and individuals in this regard.

The economical and efficient use of energy has beenseen as a way to spur sustainable socio-economic development.

The Government’s Office on January 30, 2022, alsoissued Notice No. 30/TB-VPCP on the conclusion of Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh at the first meeting of the national steering committee for theimplementation of Vietnam’s commitments at the 26th UN Climate ChangeConference of the Parties (COP26).

According to the notice, climate change remains aserious threat to the globe, and Vietnam is one of the developing countries worst hit by climate change.

At the COP26, Vietnam and nearly 150 other countries madestrong commitments to net zero methane emissions by mid-century. Together with more than 100 other countries, Vietnam pledged to reduce methane emissions by2030. The conference saw Vietnam and 48 other countries joining the Global Coal to CleanPower Transition Statement.

The implementation of the commitments at COP26,especially the one to net zero emissions, is an inevitable and irreversibletrend. Also, the timely realisation of these commitments will bring greatand long-term benefits to Vietnam. The country, therefore, needs to takeadvantage of this opportunity to restructure its economy towards low carbon.

Immediately after COP26, PM Chinh directedministries and agencies to quickly study and set out programmes and plans to fulfillVietnam's commitments. The Government has established a national steering committeefor the implementation of the commitments headed by the PM and staffed by ministersand leaders of agencies.

The PM requested that in the first quarter of 2022,the steering committee must instruct ministries and agencies to complete thebuilding of an action plan to realise Vietnam's commitments at COP26.

The immediate tasks should focus on shifting fromfossil fuels to green and clean energy; reducing greenhouse and methane emissions,especially in agricultural production and waste treatment; encouraging the research,production and use of electric automobiles; managing and using the existing forestarea sustainably and, at the same time, stepping up afforestation; the research,production and use of construction materials and urban development inaccordance with green and sustainable development; promoting and reforming the communicationwork to encourage people and businesses to join Government's efforts inimplementing the commitments; and promoting digital transformation to respondto climate change.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh on April 13,2022, also signed Decision No. 450/QD-TTg approving the national strategy forenvironmental protection by 2030, with a vision towards 2050.

The overall objectives of the strategy are to keep pollutionfrom worsening as well as environmental degradation; address urgentenvironmental problems; gradually improve and restore environmental quality;prevent biodiversity loss; contribute to improving capacity for climate changeresponse; and ensure environmental security, develop models of the circular, green,low carbon economy, striving to achieve the country's 2030 sustainabledevelopment goals.

The strategy also sets the specific goals of preventingand controlling adverse impacts that cause environmental pollution anddegradation./.