General Secretary, President: Prioritize handling the issue of air and water pollution

On the afternoon of June 10, at the Party Central Committee Headquarters, General Secretary and President To Lam chaired a working session with the Government Party Committee and agencies on summarizing Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW, dated June 3, 2013 of the 11th Party Central Committee on proactively responding to climate change, strengthening resource management and environmental protection.

Speaking at the working session, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized that environmental protection and proactive adaptation to climate change must be placed in the overall goal of rapid and sustainable development, maintaining high economic growth for many consecutive years and building a developed country based on science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

In particular, it is necessary to clarify and deepen the shift in thinking in environmental protection, proactively adapting to climate change.

General Secretary and President affirmed that environmental protection and adaptation to climate change are one of the pillars of the new development model that the 14th Party Congress has identified.

Investing in the environment is investing in the future, shifting strongly from response thinking to proactively creating development; shifting from pollution treatment thinking, consequence overcoming, passive response to early and remote prevention thinking, green development, improving resilience, harmony between humans and nature, sustainable development for future generations.

Putting people at the center of all goals, targets and solutions. The highest goal is not only to meet technical standards but also to ensure that people live in a safe and healthy environment, protecting their health, livelihoods and property from natural disasters and climate risks.

Priority must be given to handling issues of air pollution, water pollution, solid waste, plastic waste, craft village pollution, industrial clusters, flooding, landslides, drought, and saltwater intrusion. Green transformation must be associated with social security, sustainable livelihoods, and not leave vulnerable groups behind.

Investing in the environment and climate is investing in sustainable development, people's health, the competitiveness of the economy and the future of the country.

The state budget plays a leading role, and at the same time must open a strong enough mechanism to mobilize the private sector, green credit, green bonds, carbon market, public-private partnership, and international cooperation.

Resources must be allocated with focus and key points, prioritizing environmental hotspots, areas vulnerable to essential infrastructure and projects with spillover effects.

It is necessary to study and deepen the strategic issues related to water security, food security, energy security, mineral security, marine security strategy and biodiversity conservation and be placed in the overall strategy of protecting the Fatherland from an early and distant stages.

The General Secretary and President noted that the environment and climate change are global issues, so it is necessary to clearly express the proactive and active participation in international cooperation mechanisms, maximizing knowledge, management experience and international resources to serve environmental protection, adaptation to climate change and green transformation.

However, international cooperation does not just stop at receiving support, Vietnam needs to actively participate in shaping regional and global cooperation initiatives, standards, and mechanisms on environment and climate, making positive contributions to the common efforts of the international community.

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