Minister Dang Quoc Khanh launched Vietnam's Sea and Island Week and Environmental Action Month 2024

On the morning of June 10, in the coastal city of Nha Trang, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), in coordination with the the Central Propaganda and Training Commission, the Vietnam Women's Union Central Committee, the Vietnam Association of Elderly, the Vietnam Veterans' Association, and the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa Province, organized the National Launching Ceremony for Vietnam's Sea and Island Week and Environmental Action Month 2024 in response to World Environment Day (June 5) with the theme "Restore land, combat drought, and desertification" and World Oceans Day (June 8) with the theme "Increasing ocean awareness" in 2024.

Attending the event from the MONRE: Central Party Committee Member and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh; Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh along with heads of departments under the MONRE.

From Khanh Hoa province, there were the participation of Central Party Committee Member and Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Hai Ninh; Deputy Provincial Party Secretary and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Tan Tuan; Deputy Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Hoa Nam; leaders of departments and agencies of Khanh Hoa province.

The event was also attended by Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union Nguyen Thi Thu Hien; Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Elderly Phan Van Hung; Associate Professor Nguyen Chu Hoi, Vice President of the Vietnam Fisheries Society, Delegate of the XV National Assembly; Mr. Van Ngoc Thinh, Director of the International Nature Conservation Organization in Vietnam (WWF); Permanent Vice Chairman of the Bac Kan Provincial People's Committee Dinh Quang Tuyen... along with representatives from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Vietnam...

The delegates attended the ceremony

Sustainable management and use of marine space

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh informed that World Environment Day 2024 was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) under the theme "Restore land, combat drought, and desertification," calling on the community and people to join hands towards the goals of land restoration, combating desertification, and enhancing resilience to droughts, climate change impacts, protecting natural ecosystems, enhancing livelihoods, and national food security.

In Vietnam, the situation of drought and saltwater intrusion continues to be complex, with flows on rivers and reservoirs in the Northern region commonly deficient by 30-60% compared to the multi-year average; in rivers in the Central and Central Highlands regions, the deficiency is commonly 25-50%. The El Nino phenomenon combined with low water sources from the upper reaches of the Mekong River and the tidal phenomenon has exacerbated the situation of saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta, with intrusions reaching depths of 40-66 km and up to 70-76 km in places such as Tien Giang and Ben Tre provinces.

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh affirmed that this year's World Environment Day and World Oceans Day are opportunities to jointly assert the determination to take action, proactively overcome challenges, exploit, and sustainably utilize land, sea, and island resources effectively, ensuring ecological balance for sustainable development goals.

Moreover, Vietnam currently has over 11.8 million hectares, accounting for 35.74% of the total natural land area, affected by degradation, desertification, posing risks of desertification. This situation continues to increase and will significantly affect the country's agriculture.

According to Minister Dang Quoc Khanh, in the context where natural resources on land are being maximally exploited and land resources are facing degradation, many countries are implementing strategies towards the ocean to seek and exploit ocean resources to ensure the country's resource needs for development. Vietnam is a country with great potential and advantages for marine economic development, with abundant marine space for development, international exchange gateways, so we need to implement solutions to make Vietnam a strong maritime nation, rich from the sea.

Aligned with the theme of World Oceans Day 2024 "Increasing Ocean Awareness", implementing the Sustainable Marine Economy Development Strategy of Vietnam by 2030, vision to 2045, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has identified the central theme of Vietnam's Marine and Island Week this year as "Sustainable Management and Use of Marine Space" to allocate, efficiently manage, minimize conflicts in the exploitation, and use of marine space to achieve sustainable development goals for the marine economy; protect the marine environment, develop science and technology, ensure effective national defense, security and international cooperation, contributing significantly to Vietnam's rapid and sustainable socio-economic development.

Opportunities to determine action for sustainable development goals

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh emphasized that this year's World Environment Day and World Oceans Day present crucial opportunities to reaffirm our commitment to taking decisive action. It's a chance to proactively address challenges, stem the tide of land degradation, mitigate drought risks, and combat desertification. By responsibly harnessing and managing our land, sea, and island resources, we aim to strike a delicate ecological balance essential for sustainable development. Notably, Vietnam currently faces the looming threat of land degradation and desertification, with over 11.8 million hectares, representing 35.74% of its total natural land area, at risk. This ongoing deterioration poses significant implications for the nation's agricultural sector.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Tan Tuan delivered a speech

According to Minister Dang Quoc Khanh, as natural resources on land are increasingly maximally exploited, land resources are facing depletion. Many countries are strategically shifting their focus to the ocean to seek and exploit marine resources to ensure the needs of resources for national development. Vietnam has many potentials and advantages in developing its marine economy. The sea has ample space for development, international exchange gateways, so we need to implement solutions to make Vietnam a strong maritime country, rich in marine resources.

Aligned with the theme of World Oceans Day 2024, "Deepening understanding of the ocean," and implementing the sustainable development strategy for Vietnam's marine economy until 2030, with a vision to 2045, the MONRE has identified the central theme of Vietnam's week of the sea and islands and Environment Action Month 2024 as "Sustainable management and use of maritime space" to allocate and manage effectively, minimize conflicts in the exploitation and use of maritime space to achieve sustainable development goals for the maritime economy; protect the marine environment, develop science and technology, ensure effective national defense, security, and international cooperation, contributing significantly to Vietnam's rapid and sustainable socio-economic development.

For the natural resources and environment sector, in recent times, the sector has actively and proactively provided advice for the Party and the State to issue many important policies and strategies on resource management, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development such as summarizing 10 years of implementing Resolution No. 24/NQ-CP on proactive response to climate change, enhancing resource management, environmental protection; organizing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for Vietnam's marine economy until 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union Nguyen Thi Thu Hien

Key viewpoints and orientations have been institutionalized in the 2020 Environmental Protection Law; the 2023 Water Resources Law; the 2024 Land Law and is being submitted to the National Assembly for the draft Geological and Mineral Law. The ministry has completed the construction and advised the Government to approve plans, strategies, including the National Environmental Protection Plan; the National Water Resources Plan; the comprehensive plan for sustainable exploitation and use of coastal resources; the National marine spatial plan; the strategy for sustainable exploitation, use of marine resources, protection of the marine environment and islands; the national environmental protection strategy; planning for river basins, and many other important projects.

Moreover, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, together with departments, sectors, and localities, have actively and proactively promoted propaganda, gradually raised the awareness of the people and business community in environmental protection; implemented many measures to protect land resources, prevent drought, desertification, and curb the increasing trend of marine environmental pollution. Consequently, many programs, campaigns for afforestation, water source regeneration, and land restoration have been vigorously implemented, notably the implementation of the 1-billion-tree planting project. The ministry has signed cooperation programs, plans with political and social organizations such as the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union; the Central Committee of the Vietnam Elderly Association; the Central Committee of the Vietnam Veterans' Association... to mobilize all people to participate in environmental protection, efficient and sustainable management of resources, and climate change adaptation.

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh affirmed that completing the construction of national plans, sectoral plans, regional plans, and provincial plans of ministries, sectors, and localities will be a crucial basis for orienting and implementing sustainable exploitation and use of marine and island resources in a sustainable direction. It has significant implications in creating organic unity in the national development planning system, ensuring national defense, security, sovereignty, and foreign affairs.

Four solutions to build a sustainable future "Harmonizing with nature"

To acknowledge positive contributions to environmental protection efforts, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh and Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh presented the Emblem of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to representatives from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Elderly Association, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Veterans' Association, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union, Khanh Hoa Province, and the WWF organization in Vietnam.

During the ceremony, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh called on central committees, authorities at all levels, local governments, organizations, businesses, and the entire population to take practical actions to address issues such as drought, desertification, contribute to environmental protection, sustainable exploitation of marine and island resources, and adaptation to climate change. In particular, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh proposed to focus on some tasks and solutions:

Firstly, effectively implement the Party's viewpoints, policies, state laws on environmental protection, marine and island resource management; proactively respond to climate change; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; manage soil environmental quality, effectively manage ocean plastic waste; increase carbon storage through reforestation and afforestation; protect and restore marine and coastal ecosystems; and promote sustainable development of marine and island resources.

Secondly, enhance international cooperation, strengthen the capacity to forecast, monitor, and respond to climate change, drought, desertification, and land degradation. Promote the role and responsibilities of international organizations and partners, expand cooperation in science and technology transfer, share experiences, mobilize resources, and implement international commitments and agreements on environmental protection and sustainable development.

Thirdly, strengthen state management, improve policies and mechanisms, complete institutions, and enhance the effectiveness of environmental protection and resource management. Promote the role and responsibility of ministries, sectors, and localities in coordination, inspection, and supervision of environmental protection and natural resource management. Enhance the efficiency of state management in controlling the exploitation, use, and protection of land, water, marine, and island resources, strictly handle violations of laws and regulations on environmental protection and natural resource management.

Fourthly, raise awareness, responsibility, and actions of the entire society, focusing on communication, education, and awareness-raising on environmental protection, natural resource management, and climate change response. Mobilize resources, promote the role of communities, social organizations, and the business community in environmental protection and sustainable development. Encourage the participation of all individuals and organizations in implementing programs, projects, and initiatives for environmental protection, natural resource management, and climate change response.

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh emphasized that environmental protection, sustainable development of marine and island resources, and adaptation to climate change require the participation and cooperation of the entire political system, society, businesses, and individuals. It requires the synchronous implementation of solutions, combining national strength with international support, to build a prosperous Vietnam, rich in natural resources, and harmonious with nature.

Towards sustainable development and environmental protection

World Environment Day and World Oceans Day 2024 have a significant meaning, providing an opportunity for the international community, countries, and Vietnam to enhance cooperation, promote initiatives, and take practical actions to protect the environment, manage and use marine and island resources sustainably, and respond to climate change.

On this occasion, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh called on central committees, ministries, sectors, localities, organizations, businesses, and people across the country to continue to uphold the spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and responsibility to protect the environment, manage and use natural resources effectively and sustainably, and respond proactively to climate change. Every individual, organization, and community should actively participate in environmental protection, natural resource management, and climate change response, contributing to building a prosperous Vietnam, rich in natural resources, and harmonious with nature.

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh expressed his belief that with the determination, joint efforts, and practical actions of the entire political system, society, and people across the country, Vietnam would overcome challenges, effectively respond to climate change, protect the environment, manage and use natural resources effectively and sustainably, thereby ensuring sustainable development goals, building a prosperous Vietnam, and contributing positively to the common cause of the international community in response to climate change, environmental protection, and sustainable development./.

Ngoc Huyen (NRE Newspaper)