On April 22, 2016, on behalf of Vietnam Government, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha signed Paris Agreement – a historic global agreement in climate change.
1.An action program of the Party delegation and the Party Committee of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment which was issued to execute the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress.
The program clarified the ministry’s determination to creatively, drastically and synchronously implement measures to build a clean and strong Party committee.
The sector’s overal goal to the year 2020 will be creating basic change in rationally, effectively and sustainably exploiting and using natural resources, as well as controlling the rising level of environmental pollution, moving towards a green and environmentally friendly economy and actively respond to climate change.
2. The Government’s teleconference on environmental protection and issuance of Directive 25/CT-TTg on some urgent tasks and solutions related to environmental protection.
On the basis of the Government’s national online conference on environmental protection on 31 August, 2016, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued Directive No. 25/CT-TTg on new approaches, a number of urgent tasks and solutions for environmental protection.
The Directive highlighted the PM’s major views of not trading off between the environment and economic growth; developing the economy in association with environmental protection; ensuring economic growth in line with environmental protection, towards the country’s green growth and sustainable development.
3. The first-ever master plan on a national monitoring network of natural resources and environment in the period 2016-2025, a vision to 2030 was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision 90/QD-TTg on January 12, 2016. It integrates all fields of state management reaching the leading level in Southeast Asia as well as Asia. The plan is expected to meet the needs of basic survey information serving State management of natural resources and environment, as well as other technical and economic sectors of the country.
4. A planning on the network of the Ministry’s public service institutions by 2020, with a vision to 2030, was approved by the PM in Decision 2283/QD-TTg on Novemeber 25, 2016. It is an important legal foundation for organizing those institutions in a lean and synchronous manner, meeting requirements for the development of the Ministry as well as the country’s socio-economic development. The planning identifies the reduction of the number of public institutions in the Ministry to 68.
5. Vietnam participated in the Global Green Growth Forum (3GF). The Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with 3GF, becoming the first ASEAN member nation to take part in the forum. The forum was a chance for Vietnam to promote green growth through connecting different spheres, especially public – private partnership. Meanwhile, 3GF’s experience in mobilizing financial and human resources for green growth activities around the world can also help Vietnam in climate change response and green growth promotion.
6. The land use master plan until 2020 and the national land use plan for 2016-2020 were approved at the 11th session of the 13th National Assembly on April 9, 2016. Accrodingly, land use criteria until 2020 were aligned with targets and tasks in socio-economic development, defence and security in the new period.
7. The signing and ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the issuance of an implementation plan for this Agreement.The Paris Agreement was approved by 195 nations in COP21 is the first global legal document identifying responsibilities of all parties in respond to climate change. The National Plant to implement the Agreement was approved on October 28, 2016 on the threshold of COP22. It consists of 68 tasks covering all fields related to climate change, especially five main goals: mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to climate change, resources preparation, establishment of public and transparent systems, and the building and completion of institutions and policies for 2016-2020 and 2021-2030.
8. Discovery of copper and uranium ore in Dak Ruong commune of Kon Plong district, the Central Highland province of Kon Tum.
The reserves of those minerals are estimated at 108,925 tonnes and 241.7 tonnes, respectively.
The discovery opened the prospect of finding and discovering more uranium reserves in the province and the Central Highlands region.
9.The completion of a set of maps of the Vietnam-Laos borderline at the 1:50,000 scale.
A set of maps of the Vietnam – Laos borderline was completed at the 1:50,000 scale, along with a protocol on Vietnam-Laos borderline and border demarcation and an agreement on border and border gate management. They were a solid foundation for building a borderline of peace, friendship, co-operation and long-term stability, affirming the special relations and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries.
10.The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment conducted management and steering activities through a management system of documents and job profiles associated with digital signatures and applied information technological advances in its steering activities. The work aims to promote administrative reforms and an e-Government in the Ministry to serve the society, people and enterprises.