Green Economy and Challenges on Way to Sustainable Growth

Sustainable development is a certain tendency in the process of social development, a strategic choice that all countries must care about. Indeed, the world is now confronting enormous challenges like financial and economic crisis, energy and food price volatility, food shortage, climate change, and loss of biodiversity. Besides, elements of unsustainable development have also intensified pressures on limited natural resources of the earth and on assumption to the ecosystem.

 

According to statistics, environmental disturbances caused by manmade pollution gave rise to nearly 4,000 natural disasters in the first decade of the 21st century, thus affecting nearly 2 billion people. And, without immediate changes, the number of natural disasters is likely to double in at least 10 years. Not only that, after a 40-year enforcement of United Nations Environment Programme (1972-2012) and a 20-year implementation of the Rio Declaration (1992-2012), environmental challenges have not satisfactorily addressed. Urgent problem about non-traditional security like human security, food security, income gap and environmental degradation are deteriorating.

 

For Vietnam, challenges arising from financial crisis and climate change are becoming clearer. A report in 2008 by the World Bank showed that if the seawater rises one meter as predicted by 2100, the Vietnamese economy will lose US$17 billion a year, 12 percent of land will be submerged and 23 percent of population will be affected. In addition, population and population growth are significant challenges for sustainable development of the world in general and of Vietnam in particular. It is estimated that world population will exceed 9 billion people by 2050. Urbanisation will be quickening and a majority of population leave the countryside to reside in urban zones, thus complicating the urban environment. By 2015, 22 megacities will have more than 10 million residents, with some even exceeding 20 million. Hence, cities will be placed under increased pressures and challenges like clean water, air, wastewater treatment, food, shelter and transportation. Urbanisation process in Vietnam is also revealing alarming signals. Urban zones in Vietnam are exposing clearer weaknesses in infrastructure, architecture, environmental and social issues.

 

The Rio+20 formal meeting with themed "The Future We Want," discussions enquired into main themes: institutional framework for sustainable development and green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. Seven critical issues which need priority attention include decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness. Countries recognise that sustainable development goals will stay alive at the present time and in the future. Sustainable development is built on three main pillars, namely economy, society and environment. Accordingly, issues related to these three pillars need to be addressed, ranging from economic growth, poverty reduction, job creation, woman empowerment to education, response to climate change and energy security.

 

However, groups of countries had different look on and care about issues related to sustainable development. Developing countries emphasised on poverty reduction, capacity building, technology transfer and economic development, including enhanced leadership role and autonomy of each country. Developed countries put forth directional concepts and principles but underscored social aspects, human rights, and enhanced responsibilities of private groups and civil societies.

 

As one of major contents of the conference, the green economy is seen as a pathway to sustainable development in the context of poverty eradication. Countries in favour of green economy viewed it a content of restructuring aimed to restore economies at the back of crisis and maintain competitive advantage of world economies. Developing countries said the green economy is one tool to achieve sustainable development. Green economy must be associated with policies on national economic, social environmental policies as well as objectives of international commitments to sustainable development, including millennium goals. However, each country must know to assess opportunities, challenges and goals of sustainable development needed to be reached.

 

Upholding the theme "The Future We Want", Rio+20 reaffirmed continued strong human to human relationships, saying that goals, desires and outcomes of the conference depended on all of us, the future is decided by us and future generations. The key issue of Rio+20 was to change production and consumption modes. Accordingly, all countries are committed to economic growth, not only in expression of GDP growth but also through social and environmental criteria.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, who led the Vietnamese delegation, affirmed that Vietnam regarded sustainable development as development orientation needed to be taken into account in the coming time and will be implemented in line with the country’s development conditions and context. Vietnam suggested the UN set up regional green economic centres all over the world. These facilities are responsible for updating indicators of countries in the region, providing policymaking and good practice consulting services for countries, creating annual reports on green economy, etc. Vietnam called developed countries to share experiences and support developing countries to promote investment and build green cities in following aspects: green constructions, green residences, green energy, green industry, protection and development of green spaces. For Southeast Asia, Vietnam was ready to work with ASEAN countries and the UN to set up the Regional Centre for Green Economy in Vietnam and to share the operational costs of this centre.

 

Taking place at the time the world faced numerous challenges like economic crisis, widening income gap, declining biodiversity and degrading natural ecosystem, Rio+20 was thus of greater significance and was considered a golden opportunity for international communities to orientate policies and actions to promote sustainability of economy, export and environment.