Recently, in the Investment Forum towards Green Growth in the framework of the 5th Quang Nam Heritage Festival, experts from many countries around the world have confirmed that the green growth is inevitable trend and should start from now.
Korean Experience
According to Mr. Lee Myung-kyoon, Director of Department of Green Growth Planning and Implementation, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), sustainable economic development models with the concept of green growth is the inevitable trend.
Dr. Myung-Kyoon Lee gave an example in Korea of a move towards green growth in Suncheon village. Since 1996, people in this village haven’t used pesticides and chemical fertilizers in crop production. They removed 282 electric poles, restaurants relocated outside the bay area and established an ecological sanctuaries with total area of 9.6 million sq. meters. Along with long-term strategies for sustainable development, people begin to change their lifestyle, farming practices and environmental protection awareness. As a result, biodiversity in the village has increased significantly; in 1996 there are 79 species of migratory birds. However, in 2010, the number of migratory birds in the village of Suncheon has increased to 525 species. As a small village, Suncheon has become a center of ecotourism, to 2012, three million tourists visited the village. Only exhibition of Suncheon Bay April 2013, 1.28 million tourists visited the village.
In solid waste management, Korea have used modern technology in waste treatment quite early, therefore in ten years from 1994 to 2004 the amount of waste in Korea has decreased to 53, 670 tons and the amount of recycled waste has been up to 16, 470 tons.
Model in Vietnam
Over recent ten years, Quang Nam has gradually developed green economy in some important areas such as Hoi An, Cu Lao Cham and Tam Ky.
Let’s take an example in Cu Lao Cham island, a program on aquatic management has been implemented in three communes of Duy Hai (Duy Xuyen), Binh Hai (Thang Binh) and Tam Tien (Nui Thanh) to protect aquatic resources. The program has contributed to protect ecological sea environment and manage, exploit marine resources effectively so as to make economic benefits for residential communities. Also in Cu Lao Cham, five years ago coral reef along the island could not grow because of peope’s low awareness of environmental protection. The local authority mobilized people to protect its environment from small actions. Everyday members of women and youth unions knitted baskets from coconut and palm leaves then delivered free in marketplaces. On the other hand, they forced those carrying plastic bags to marketplaces must go back home. Those regulations apply to tourists. After few years, coral reefs have grown again, that make revenue for this island, thank to the sea diving services.
Currently, the National Strategy for Green Growth in Vietnam begins developing towards low carbon economy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. According to Dr. Myung-Kyoon Lee, the National Strategy should point out macroeconomic policies on land, water management, tax policy and encourage enterprises develop toward green growth.