On the morning of January 15 in Hanoi, the Central Vietnam Association of Clean Water and Environment held a conference to review the Association’s activities in 2021, implement its tasks for 2022, and admit additional collective and individual members.

VIDEO: Vietnam Association of Clean Water and Environment Holds Conference to Review Its 2021 Activities and Implement Tasks for 2022

Attending the Conference were Mr. Lê Quang Huy – Member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment of the 15th National Assembly (Committee for Science, Technology and Environment), and Mr. Nguyễn Ngọc Sơn – Standing Member of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment of the 15th National Assembly.

Representing the Vietnam Association of Clean Water and Environment were Mr. Nguyễn Linh Ngọc – Chairman of the Association, Mr. Nguyễn Xuân Lai – Secretary General of the Association, Ms. Phạm Thị Xuân – Vice Chairwoman and Chief of Office of the Association; Mr. Nguyễn Thế Đồng – Vice Chairman of the Association, Mr. Nguyễn Quang Huân – 15th National Assembly Deputy and Vice Chairman of the Association; and Mr. Nguyễn Văn Toàn – Vice Chairman of the Association and Editor-in-Chief of Environment and Life Magazine.

Reporting at the Conference, Ms. Phạm Thị Xuân – Vice Chairwoman of the Association, said: “In 2021, amid numerous difficulties and challenges caused by the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic in most provinces and cities across the country, the activities of the Vietnam Association of Clean Water and Environment were significantly affected. However, under the direction of the Chairman, the Standing Committee and the Association’s specialized departments, who demonstrated enthusiasm, responsibility, solidarity and high consensus in their work, and in close coordination with enterprises and member organizations in provinces and cities nationwide, together with the support and attention of relevant ministries and sectors, particularly the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Association achieved a number of significant accomplishments.”

Regarding organizational work and the Association’s activities, in 2021, the Standing Committee of the Central Association drafted amendments and supplements to the Association’s Charter, added personnel and consolidated the organization of the Office and specialized departments of the Association, including: the Office of the Association, the Department of Organization and Association Development, the Department of External Relations, the Communications Department, the Project Department, the Department of Science and Technology, and established the Institute for Natural Resources and Environment Development. Decisions were issued to admit 7 business organizations as collective members and 14 individual members.

In 2021, the Association coordinated and successfully organized a conference on the recycling and use of biodegradable plastic waste in Ho Chi Minh City. The Association is implementing the research project: Research on the theoretical and practical foundations for assessing the environmental impacts of investment projects on natural heritage and proposing management regulations. The Association also participated in proposing an overview of current water resource management practices, issues and solutions through a case study of the Bắc Hưng Hải river basin and irrigation system.

Amid the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, in response to the call of the General Secretary and the President, and Resolution No. 30/2021/QH15 dated July 28, 2021 of the National Assembly on Covid-19 prevention and control, the Association thoroughly implemented and strictly complied with Directives 15 and 16 of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health’s 5K recommendations, and regulations of relevant ministries and sectors on Covid-19 prevention and control. The Association directed Environment and Life Magazine, the official publication of the Association, to regularly publish articles on Covid-19 prevention and control in its monthly issues, especially on its electronic magazine, so that people could better understand the situation and join hands in fighting the pandemic.

In response to the call of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Central Association called on its members to contribute to the Covid-19 Vaccine Fund, with a total amount of VND 102.5 million. Of this amount, VND 71 million was donated to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, VND 8.5 million was donated to the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, and VND 23 million was donated to the Green Packaging Vietnam Program in Ho Chi Minh City to produce environmentally friendly biodegradable packaging for kitchens preparing meals for frontline doctors and medical workers.

Speaking at the Conference, Mr. Lê Quang Huy – Member of the Party Central Committee*, *Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment of the 15th National Assembly, highly appreciated the achievements made by the Vietnam Association of Clean Water and Environment in 2021 despite the many difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. He expressed his confidence and desire for the Association to continue promoting its role in social criticism and contributing recommendations to the Party, State and Government on issues related to clean water, the environment and climate change. He also called for the organization of more training courses, specialized conferences and seminars to disseminate information and gather broad public opinions on issues related to the Association’s objectives and principles, towards the goals of “Bringing clean water to the poor” and “Joining hands with communities to respond to climate change.”

Mr. Nguyễn Quang Huân, National Assembly Deputy, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Clean Water and Environment and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Halcom Vietnam Joint Stock Company, said that for waste-to-energy plants, there has not been a specific assessment of air pollution, while pollutants from the ground are transferred into the atmosphere, including large amounts of uranium, causing environmental impacts. One ton of methane generates 28 tons of carbon dioxide. Pointing out this situation, Mr. Huân emphasized that if we do not start dealing with waste, methane and carbon dioxide will continue to be released, particularly from previously landfilled waste rather than newly generated waste. Daily waste generation is 60 tons per day, while both this newly generated waste and previously landfilled waste produce leachate that seeps into the environment.

“The Vietnam Association of Clean Water and Environment should take the lead in this field to encourage businesses and other economic and social sectors to pay greater attention. This will also be one of the Association’s key activities in the coming period,” Mr. Huân emphasized.

Referring to the action program, in addition to the programs mentioned in the report, Mr. Huân said that another necessary activity is that the Association is a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and proposed incorporating environmental monitoring activities in coordination with the Vietnam Fatherland Front into the program. If the Association can establish a mechanism to coordinate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front in environmental monitoring, it would be more effective. In addition, there is the Net Zero program – a major program that enhances Vietnam’s reputation on the international stage but also presents many challenges. To achieve this goal, all industrial technologies must undergo fundamental transformation. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Vietnam Association of Clean Water and Environment could participate in reviewing research conducted by experts at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and make active contributions to the National Assembly.

Speaking on the directions and tasks of the Association for 2022, Dr. Nguyễn Linh Ngọc – former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and Chairman of the Association, outlined five key tasks of the Association:

“First, continue to consolidate and develop the Association’s organization, focusing on admitting specialized organizations in clean water supply, waste treatment and environmental improvement. Improve the content of the Association’s activities and enhance the effectiveness of implementing the Association’s tasks.

Second, continue implementing the three orientations: “Bringing clean water to the poor,” “Turning waste into resources,” and “Joining hands with communities to respond to climate change,” with a focus on contributing to improving the quality of domestic water.

Third, strengthen capacity to perform the function of providing consultation on social criticism in the fields of clean water and the environment, contributing to protecting the interests of residential communities in these areas.

Fourth, actively seek and mobilize resources, sign cooperation programs with relevant organizations and agencies, expand international cooperation in areas related to clean water and environmental protection, and ensure sustainable operations and development at the central and local Association levels under the new conditions.

Fifth, promptly organize exchanges of experience among members at different levels of the Association in various forms, continue to strengthen and develop relationships between the Central Association and local associations, specialized associations, other socio-professional associations, provincial People’s Committees and provincial departments and organizations, as well as units under the Association and among these units, in order to promote initiatives and collective intelligence, advance the Association’s activities and encourage members’ contributions to building the Association.”

Mr. Nguyễn Linh Ngọc – Chairman of the Association, acknowledged the comments and expressed his hope that the National Assembly’s agencies would continue to pay attention to, provide guidance for and support the Vietnam Association of Clean Water and Environment so that it can continue to develop further.

Also at the Conference, Mr. Nguyễn Linh Ngọc – Chairman of the Association, presented the Decision on admitting Hùng Thành Clean Water and Environment Investment Group Joint Stock Company as a collective member. He also presented the Decisions on admitting Mr. Bùi Ngọc Trường – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hùng Thành Company, and Mr. Hoàng Mạnh Cương – former Deputy Director General of the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as individual members.

Source: Environment & Life