Localities, businesses look to green growth models

Building green lifestyle

The northern port city of Hai Phong was the first locality to build and develop a green growth plan, starting in 2014, attracting investment to promote sustainable development in accordance with its actual economic conditions.

According to Le Khac Nam, Deputy Chair of Hai Phong City’s People’s Committee, major projects developed by the city during the 2014-2020 period included a waste treatment project and an electric bus project on Cat Ba Island. Many international organizations have supported and coordinated with Hai Phong to develop green, environment-friendly projects. The city is looking to create a green investment and business environment, combining green growth with socioeconomic development goals.

Hai Phong’s leaders said the city will apply digital technology and promote digital transformation along with green growth models in order to build green seaports, develop environment-friendly production models, reduce energy consumption, and utilize renewable energy resources such as wind and wave power. Hai Phong is also encouraging green lifestyle, green shopping and sustainable consumption.

In the southeastern province of Dong Nai, 31 industrial zones have come into operation and are required to have centralized wastewater treatment systems. Some businesses have promoted technological innovation and are using robots at specific work stages to protect worker health. According to Nguyen Thi Hoang, Deputy Chair of the provincial people’s committee, resolutions of the 10th and 11th congresses of the provincial party committee set green growth and sustainable development goals.

Reducing gas emissions

On October 1, 2021, the prime minister approved the National Green Growth Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, aiming at accelerating economic restructuring, renovating the economic growth model, and ensuring environmental sustainability and social equality.

The strategy’s major objectives include reducing primary energy consumption by 1-1.5 percent per year; renewable energy to account for 15-20 percent of total primary energy supply; forest cover rate to remain stable at 42 percent; at least 30 percent of total cultivated area to use advanced methods of irrigation; and 95 percent of urban solid waste to be collected for treatment.

The green growth strategy reflects Vietnam’s determination to implement its commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and climate action through green growth objectives. To ensure positive results of the strategy, Vietnam needs to accelerate institutional improvements, further improve the investment and business environment, facilitate access to capital resources, and promote technological innovation and sustainable production. Financial support packages should be created to serve green investment projects.