Many countries in the world have paid special attention to combining
efforts to promote economic growth and protect the environment. Clean,
environmentally friendly technological solutions have become the choice
of industrial production groups and businesses. Insights from the
Vietnam Economic News.
Experiences of Japan and the RoK
In Japan, from 1950-1960, the rapid development of industrial
production led to increased environmental pollution and deteriorated the
living environment, affecting human health and the development of the
country. The Japanese government had improved the legal system and
established a state management agency in the field of environment in
order to deal simultaneously with three problems: minimising
environmental pollution, reducing the cost of pollution control and
expenses on human health, and lowering the production cost and energy
use.
Japan had promulgated strict regulations on
waste standards to ensure effective control of water, air pollution.
Notably, it had intensified education to improve the community awareness
about environmental protection and encourage businesses and
organisations to take part in environmental pollution prevention and
control activities. Laws in the fields of air, water and soil pollution
control, noise prevention, odor control, and nature conservation laws
had been effectively implemented. Thanks to these efforts, Japan is
currently known as one of the world’s leading countries with a green,
sustainable and environmentally friendly economy.
In the Republic of Korea (RoK), a country with developed industries, in
2008, the government announced its national strategy for low-carbon
green growth. Under this strategy, the RoK had spent two percent of its
gross domestic product (GDP) on activities related to green growth,
double the level recommended by the United Nations. Many RoK businesses
have successfully developed green information technology.
Vietnam’s efforts
In July 2012, the Vietnamese government officially approved the
National Green Growth Strategy via Decision 1393/QD-TTg. Under this
strategy, Vietnam has made great efforts towards the goals of green
growth and a low-carbon economy. Along with boosting socioeconomic
growth, it has paid much attention to reducing carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions and improving the greenhouse gas absorption capability. Before
that, the government and the national assembly promulgated and approved
many policies related to environmental protection and pollution
control, for example the Environmental Protection Law, the Mineral Law,
the Law on Energy Efficiency and Conservation, the Cleaner Production in
Industry Strategy towards 2020, and the Plan for Environmental Industry
Development. The implementation of these laws, strategies and plans has
contributed to improving pollution control and the awareness of the
social community, businesses and management authorities from the central
level to the local level about the need to protect the environment for
sustainable growth.
During six years (2005-2011)
implementing the Cleaner Production in Industry (CPI) Component with the
financial support from the Danish International Development Agency
(Danida), the Ministry of Industry and Trade made 61 cleaner production
assessments for businesses in target provinces; 45 demonstration
projects were carried out in target provinces with investment support;
11 workshops were organized in non-target provinces to provide
instructions for making cleaner production action plans. Through
demonstration projects which have been implemented, businesses could
save about 11 percent of water consumption, 12 percent of electricity,
21 percent of coal, 14 percent of fuel oil, 23 percent of chemicals, and
considerably reduced CO2 emissions.
The Ministry
of Science and Technology has implemented an energy efficiency and
conservation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) project,
contributing to minimizing CO2 emissions. From 2005 to June 2011, 543
energy efficiency and conservation projects were developed in 25
provinces and cities in five industries: bricks and tiles, ceramics and
pottery, textiles and garments, paper and pulp, and food processing. As a
result of these projects, 232,000 tonnes of oil equivalent (TOEs) had
been saved and CO2 emissions had been reduced by 944,000 tonnes, leading
to a 10-50 percent decrease in the production cost, helping SMEs
increase productivity by 30 percent and enhance their competitiveness.
In the current context, to achieve green growth
goals, Vietnam very much needs the assistance from the international
community. The experience, technology, human and material resources of
governmental and nongovernmental organizations will help Vietnam achieve
its millennium development goals as well as sustainable economic
growth.-VNA