Sustainable urban development in tandem with climate change adaptation
It is necessary to increase tree coverage to reduce the effect of heat-induced problems and increase the absorption of greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas, contributing to realising the target of net-zero emissions by 2050, according to Dr. Nguyen Tuan Quang, Deputy Director of the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Hanoi (VNA) – It is necessary to increase tree coverage to reduce the effect of heat-inducedproblems and increase the absorption of greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas,contributing to realising the target of net-zero emissions by 2050, according toDr. Nguyen Tuan Quang, Deputy Director of the Department of Climate Changeunder the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Sectors and localities should promotethe efficient use of energy, apply renewable energy solutions in production,traffic and urban lighting as well as recycling waste and wastewater in linewith the circular model, and producing energy from waster, he said while mentioning solutions to ensure urban developmentassociated with environmental protection and climate change adaptation.
Quang also highlighted the needto upgrade traffic works in areas vulnerable to climate change, construct buildings and urban areas in accordance with green standards and close tonature, and apply energy efficiency standards in buildings.
🐓 Echoing Quang's view,Mai Quoc Buu, from Van Lang University, said green projects must be designed inthe direction of reducing energy and intensifying the adoption of clean and green energy.
Reports showed that Vietnam has more than 860 urban areas and the urbanisation rate has increased to nearly 40/% in 2021.
Urban areas are importantdriving force for socio-economic development, speed up economic restructuring towardsindustrialisation and modernisation. However, the rapid development of urbanareas leads to overpopulation, increase economic development activities, hightraffic density and high energy consumption, therefore, they are a huge sourceof greenhouse gas emissions - the cause of climate change.
๊ Dr. Architect Ngo Minh Hung andAssociate Professor Le Thi Kim Oanh from the Van Lang University said that thestrong urbanisation process in developing countries has led to worseningenvironmental pollution, adding that the impacts of climate change make urbangovernance more difficult. Scarcity of water supply, heat, urban flooding andwastewater-related issues have been affecting the lives and socio-economic inurban areas, they said./.
Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi noted several causes of and solutions to some urban development issues while fielding questions from legislators at the National Assembly’s ongoing fourth session in Hanoi on November 3.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on November 30 co-chaired a national urban conference in Hanoi, which aims to disseminate and roll out the Government's Resolution 148/NQ-CP on implementing the Politburo's Resolution 06-NQ/TW on planning, construction, management and sustainable development of urban areas in Vietnam to 2030, with a vision to 2045.
Urbanisation and city development are a chance for each country, region, and locality to make breakthrough development in all fields, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told a national conference on November 30.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
