On June 21, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment met Dechen Tsering, the Regional Director and Representative UN Environment Asia and the Pacific (UNDP).
Speaking at the meeting Minister Tran Hong Ha highly appreciate the cooperation and support of UN Environment in general and Ms. Dechen Tsering in particular for Vietnam and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE). In the recent years, UN Environment has supported Vietnam on technique, consultant experts in compiling legislation document and policies on environment; provided scholarships for training human resources; as well as supported to implement many environmental programs and projects.
The Minister said Vietnam was selected to held the sixth Assembly of Global Environment Facility (GEF) and side-events held in Da Nang in 2018. The hosting this important event has affirmed the position of Vietnam to international community, especially in environment and climate change sector which have been being received great attention and concerns.
It is known that the working delegation of UN Environment with more than 30 members and led by Mr. Erik Solheim, Director General will visit Vietnam to participate in the sixth Assembly of GEF and its side-events in Da Nang. The Minister invites Ms. Dechen Tsering to participate in activities chaired by MONRE or co-chaired in collaboration with international organizations, including programs such as: “Joining hand to protect Ocean”; “Conservation through tourism development in Vietnam”; and side-event “Ocean plastic waste management”.
At the side event “Ocean plastic waste management”, Vietnam will propose the “Partnership establishment for non-plastic waste Asia-East Sea region”. The detail content of this Initiative will be presented by MONRE in the event. Accordingly, Vietnam hopes Ms. Dechen Tsering will support this idea.
Ms. Dechen Tsering said UN Environment will consider and support environmental protection programs. During the meeting, Ms. Dechen Tsering invites the Minister to participate in the third meeting session of the UN Environment's Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific which is expected to be held in Singapore in November 2018 as well as in discussions on transitional water resources management.
Minister Tran Hong Ha said the transitional water resources management issue has been being concerned by Vietnam and the county is participating in Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Helsinki 1992 Convention), Minister will plan to participate in this event and have presentation on ocean plastic waste - one of side-events joined by Vietnam at GEF-6.
Regarding to plastic waste, Minister proposes UN Environment to support Vietnam as well as regional countries on policy, management capacity as well as integration these issues into the Law on Environment. Minister also supports private sector in production of environmentally-friendly products to gradually replace plastic material/products to minimize plastic waste into environment as present.
For development of biodiversity attaching to eco-tourism and conservation, Minister Tran Hong Ha exchanges his idea with Ms. Dechen Tsering that UN Environment should have more practical activities and recommendations for each nations and regions. He mentions that the rate of marine protected areas in the region is low so that conservation should go first then sustainable exploitation and development.
Regarding to Mekong River and Mekong River Delta issue, Minister hope UN Environment will have a comprehensive assessment on water flow, lakes, hydropower plants on the overall location as well as its impacts on each nations. Minister said at the present, no solution to exploit sustainably and protect the Mekong River’s biodiversity and ecosystem of is found. These issues have been causing serious degradation on environment and river system.
Moreover, Minister proposes UN Environment supports Vietnam in development initiatives and trends on issues such as: sustainable rice production, greenhouse gases emission reduction, accessing and building smart cities to adapt to climate change, etc.
It is known that with the remain time, Ms. Dechen Tsering will have separate meetings with the General Department of Land Administration, Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change, Vietnam Administration of Sea and Island and Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment. Minister wishes Ms. Dechen Tsering have effective meetings with these units.
Khuong Trung