Hanoi (VNA) - The circular economy is the solution for Vietnam to continue firmly on the path to sustainable development, a green and a low-carbon economy, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said at the Vietnam Circular🦋 Econom🎃y Forum 2022 on June 28.

Participants said Vietnam must focus on speeding up "green and circular" economic development, saying that the circular economy is the foundation to create a "golden key" to help Vietnam realise its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.

“Green” economic development

Environmental and climate issues are always a top priority of the Vietnamese Party, National Assembly, and Government, along with national development programmes and plans, with the ultimate goal of protecting people’s health, ensuring environmental quality, and conserving biodiversity and the ecosystem. Building a green, circular, and environmentally-friendly economy has been included in the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, the minister said, adding that the country will encounter certain difficulties in the transition to a circular economy, but with the engagement of the entire political system and support from the whole society, the process will soon be accelerated in Vietnam. Although the transition from a linear model to a circular economic one will initially face certain difficulties in the context of the lack of promotion mechanisms, policies and resources, with the participation of the entire political system and the response of the whole society, the transition to a circular economy will soon be accelerated in the country, Ha stressed. He underlined the necessity to concretise provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection, especially those on responsibilities of manufacturers and distributors in collecting, classifying, recycling and paying costs of disposal processing. The State needs to issue criteria for “green” public procurement, using products derived from recycled materials, he said. Roadmaps to replace fuels, products using hazardous materials, products using single-use plastic with environmentally friendly fuels and materials, and reusable products should be mapped out, he added.

Strengthening cooperation, mobilising resources

Minister Ha highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s message to the forum that calls for solidarity and joint actions to reduce carbon emissions towards net zero like the way humankind has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government leader also emphasised cooperation among the countries, as well as between them and international organisations to step up circular economy models, especially by sharing knowledge, boosting joint scientific research and developing and transferring technology, Ha said. Domestic and international partners shared some successful circular economy models in the region and the world to identify suitable ones for Vietnam. UNDP Resident Representative for Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen said the circular economy is a development opportunity for the country in which investing in the governance system, developing regulations and policies to promote sustainable business practices, and gradually reducing polluting industries will help Vietnam secure green economic recovery in the future. By making collective efforts, sharing data, knowledge and experience openly, and connecting relevant parties, the mindset will be changed towards the transition to a circular economy that matches the demand, history, and ambitions of Vietnamese people, she said. Meanwhile, Roongrote Rangsiyopash, President and CEO of Thailand’s SCG Group, said a circular economy requires strong cooperation among companies, customers, supply chains, and stakeholders in value chains. He said that Thai businesses are making efforts to cooperate with public-private organisations in Vietnam to implement many projects in this field./.