Environment Protection Boosts Economic Growth

 

Vietnam is among nations which have maintained high and continuous economic growth over recent decades. However, according to foreign experts, the country will lose on average three percent of green GDP for every one per cent of GDP growth without a good environmental protection strategy.

According to World Bank (WB) research on Vietnam’s environment, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are two among the ten provinces and cities with the highest rate of environmental pollution, particularly in major industrial parks. WB found that environmental pollution is the biggest challenge to Vietnam’s process of industrialization, modernization and urbanization.

 

According to scientists, Vietnam is among the nations to be hardest hit by climate change. Calamities have occurred frequently in the Southeast Asian country in recent years: floods in central and central highlands localities, droughts in provinces in the Red River Delta and Mekong Delta. Research on climate change in Vietnam showed that from 1990 to 2000, the annual average temperature increased 0.1⁰C and between 0.1⁰C and 0.3⁰C in summer months. The temperature was forecast to rise by 2.5⁰C-2.8⁰C in 2010 and 1.4⁰C-1.5⁰C in 2050 against 1990. The summer weather is more and more severe while rainfall is increasing strongly. Vietnam has been facing more storms with higher intensity and their impact zone is moving south.   

 

According to the central steering committee of flood and storm response, total damage due to natural disasters in 2007 was about VND18.57 trillion. In 2008, damage was over VND13 trillion and caused serious human losses. Natural disaster damages climbed to VND23.745 trillion in 2009. Last year, central localities alone suffered loss of VND11.6 trillion from storms and floods.

 

The hydrometeorology department estimates the sea water level is rising up 2 millimetres a year on average and coastal erosion is already happening. Experts said if counting environment-related losses, Vietnam’s real GDP growth stands at only 3-4 per cent, adding that if the temperature continues increasing Vietnam will lose 17 per cent of its agricultural output.    

 

According to the WB, Vietnam is among nations predicted to be hardest hit by climate change and rising sea water, with the Red River and Mekong River deltas taking the brunt. If the sea level rises one meter, an estimate of 10 per cent of population will be directly affected and the country’s GDP will be fall 10 per cent. If the sea level rises by three meters, the figures are respectively 25 per cent.

 

Looking at Vietnam’s environmental situation at present, many people are surprised at air pollution levels. Statistics from the Department of Environment Protection, defining exhaust sources causing air pollution nationwide (including both in urban and other areas), point to traffic activities contributing up to 85 per cent of carbon monoxide and 95 per cent of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Meanwhile, industrial production activities also contribute a lot. Apart from exhaust from vehicles and fumes from industrial parks, waste and wastewater also pollute the air and water sources. A lot of industrial parks and residential areas have not yet had waste treatment systems which meet minimum standards. Waste, mostly untreated, is discharged directly into rivers and lakes surrounding cities.

 

After ten years of implementing the strategy of environment protection (2001-2010), Vietnam has gained some achievements, but in fact the quality of environment in the Southeast Asian country is worsening and seriously affecting the people’s health and life, particularly in major economic zones.

According to Associate Professor, PhD Le Huu Ai of Danang Economy University, the economic growth must be paired with social development and environment protection. To ensure sustainable development, it is necessary to outline a comprehensive system of solutions nationwide.

 

Particularly, we need to increase propaganda and education in a bid to raise awareness of environment protection for individuals and organizations across the country, with a focus on the risks of environmental pollution, climate change and rising sea levels to human survival.

 

Based on state management and legal tools relating to environmental protection, Mr Ai recommended applying economic tools in the environment management work; urgently completing the current system of laws and improving state agencies on environment, and issuing detailed documents guiding the implementation fairly and comprehensively.   

 

According to statistics, the whole country now has about 250 industrial parks, processing zones and thousands of craft villages. Thus, planning work is very important. Regarding industrial parks, infrastructure companies should build concentrated systems of wastewater collection and treatment before being licensed for operation. The companies also must make regular reports on wastewater treatment to avoid cases like the case of Thi Vai River pollution.

 

Legally, Ai went on to say, the state needs to apply financial tools in environment management work, such as levying tax, environment fees, issuing waste collection licenses or environment subsidies.

 

In addition, the state should encourage scientific and technological solutions in the field of environment protection, create the transparent legal system and call on individuals as well as organizations to innovate and apply technological solutions to protect the environment. For the long term, the state should mobilize financial sources for environmental protection work and coping with natural disasters. Apart from the state budget, mobilizing private and organization capital is vital to prevent their production and business activities damaging the environment.