A project aiming to reduce environmental pollution and enhance urban areas’ ability to respond to climate change through research and communication efforts to raise awareness was presented to the public on Thursday in Hà Nội.
The project “Integrating climate change resilience and environmental protection to develop type-two green cities” was introduced by the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment (ISPAE).
Nguyễn Trung Thắng, deputy director of the ISPAE and also deputy head of the Project Management Board, said that with increasing pressure from climate change and environmental pollution, cities in Việt Nam were facing an urgent need to change their development model, moving towards green, safe and adaptive living spaces.
Rising air, water and urban waste pollution has posed unprecedented challenges to urban management and planning.
“In this context, implementing solutions including policy improvements, technological innovation and raising public awareness becomes a foundation for cities to better withstand the impacts of climate change and create a sustainable living environment for the present and the future,” he said.
To realise this goal, Việt Nam has conducted several international cooperation programmes to call for resources, experience and advanced technology.
The project is one of several initiatives under a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), the Global Environment Facility and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Project Director Trần Thu Hương said that the initiative started in 2020 and is scheduled to end in 2027. It aims to strengthen institutional capacity in environmental protection, improve resilience to climate change and serve the green development orientation for cities.
It has been operating in Huế as well as in Tuyên Quang and Phú Thọ provinces.
The project consists of four components: developing a national policy framework on environmental protection and climate change resilience; piloting green urban development solutions in cities; researching and applying new financial solutions to prevent climate risks; and supporting the development of integrated environmental planning and climate change adaptation at provincial and municipal levels.
Key activities include workshops, training, drafting of legal documents, legal-technical tools implementation, piloting green cities action plans, applying smart urban management solutions and promoting the circular economy, sustainable production and consumption, as well as testing eco-label criteria for environmentally friendly products and services.
“By combining policy with technical and communication solutions, the project not only aims to improve infrastructure and urban environmental management, but also encourage the participation of authorities, businesses and people, creating a solid foundation for creating green cities and effectively adapting to climate change,” Hương said.
Raising awareness
Thắng said that a greenhouse gas inventory package is one of the most important components of the project, targeted at meeting the country’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions.
The goal is to raise awareness for businesses and guide the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions.
The project has also developed guidelines for assessing cities’ vulnerability to climate change.
At the end of the initiative, the MAE will continue to work on policy, planning and institutional capacity building components, while the ADB will provide loans and infrastructure support.
“The project’s results will help localities maintain their operations and contribute to policy orientation for other localities,” Thắng confirmed.
Along with technical activities, communication is seen as the key to changing behaviour and promoting community action.
Vũ Thanh Hường, the project’s communications expert, said that activities would target three main groups: managers, people and businesses.
“People are both beneficiaries and direct participants in environmental protection, and need to form the right habits from small things,” she said.
(VNS)
