SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM

(UNEP)

Position of the SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM concerning the session of the

United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) in July 2021

AGENDA 1
“Environmental Sustainability in Active and Post Conflict Zones”

The SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM is honored to take part in the high-level dialogue
regarding “Environmental Sustainability in Active and Post Conflict Zones''. The state firmly
believes that active and post conflict zones must take serious measures and implement strategies
to revive from the environmental loss that the regions have suffered. Environmental development
and sustainability are of utmost importance to our country. Vietnam therefore recognizes the
horrendous impacts of conflicts on the environment of a region and respects the vital role played
by 2030 Agendas and Sustainable goals in promoting and ensuring environmental development
and sustainability.

Vietnam being a state that has suffered from conflicts in the 20th century is aware of the
detrimental effect of conflicts on the environment. Late Vietnamese President Quant expressed
his grievance about the issue by saying “Vietnam, lay engulfed in the long darkness of
colonialism, wars, and backwardness.” in his speech at Nehru Museum Library on 4 march 2018.
Vietnam has endured the ill effects of conflicts and industrialization in the form of land
degradation, loss of biodiversity, forest degradation, pollution and global climate change.

To solve the above-mentioned problems and to revive the environment, the Vietnamese
government has developed various policies, strategies, plans and legal frameworks. Some of
which are as follows:
  The establishment of the National Council of Sustainable development in 2005 which is
chaired by the deputy prime minister Pham Gina Chime.
 Socio-economic development plan of 2011-2015.
 National strategy for environment protection until 2010 and Vision to 2020 and 5 year
action plan which promote environmental protection, pollution prevention and
biodiversity conservation.
 The National Strategy on Environment Protection to 2020, with Visions to 2030 whose
objective is to generally control and minimize the rise in environment pollution, resource
deterioration and biodiversity degradation; to enhance quality of the habitat; to lift the
capability of responding climate change, striving for sustainable national development.
 Viet Nam Sustainable Development Strategy for 2011-2020 whose main objective is to
achieve Sustainable and effective growth must come along with social progress and
equality, national resources and environment protection.
 Resolution No. 41-NQ/TW of Politburo Concerning environmental protection in the
period of accelerating national industrialization and modernization.
 Strategy of Forestry Development in Vietnam for the period of 2006- 2020.
 “National Plan of Action on Biodiversity to 2010 and Orientation for Implementation of
the Convention on Biodiversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety.

Vietnam has signed numerous treaties like the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT),
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT), Chemical
Weapons Convention (CWC), Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and Geneva
Protocol. Vietnam has also signed various Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) from
2010 to 2020.

Vietnam has paid close attention to the conflict escalating between Israel and Palestine. The state
is deeply concerned and requests the relevant parties to show restraint and stop violence
immediately because it is putting lives of innocent citizens in harm's way. Furthermore the
conflict is also causing a plenty of environmental damage which the state is incredibly perturbed
about. Vietnam suggests that the conflict should be resolved through peaceful means to ensure
the safety and legitimate interests of the people.

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1
http://www.chinhphu.vn/portal/page/portal/English/strategies/strategiesdetails?categoryId=30&articleId=10050825
2
http://www.chinhphu.vn/portal/page/portal/English/strategies/strategiesdetails?categoryId=30&articleId=10051159
3
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/995vietnam.pdf
3
https://www.mofa.gov.vn/vi/tt_baochi/pbnfn/ns210513154023
4
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/memberstates/vietnam
5
https://www.mofa.gov.vn/
6
https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/vietnam/overview
7
https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/14870/ge-top_vietnam_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
8
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/memberstates/vietnam
9
https://www.mofa.gov.vn/cn_vakv/
 AGENDA 2
“Addressing Multi-Source and Pathogenic Pollution in Global Waterways”

Vietnam contains a long coastline of 3,260 km running from Mongo Cain to Ha Tine and claims
12 nautical miles as the limit of its territorial waters. The River Water quality of the state has
been severely affected along with an increased concentration of various toxins in water due to
the rapid economic development that has arisen in Vietnam in the past decade. Natural hazards
such as typhoons, storms, and floods are caused due to the state’s geography and topography
contributing majorly in contaminating surface water. The above mentioned factors create a
multitude of problems such as waterborne diseases, water pollution and destruction of
agricultural land and livestock majorly. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
state that almost 80% of the diseases in Vietnam are caused by polluted water. There are many
cases of cholera, typhoid, dysentery and malaria each year in the country.

To solve these problems the Vietnamese government has passed the following rules:
 Water Resources Law (No. 8/1998/QH10 of 1998)
 Decree No. 179/1999/ND-CP stipulating the implementation of the Law on Water
Resources
 Law No. 17/2012/QH13 on Water Resources
 Decree No. 43/2015/ND-CP Law No. 17/2012/QH13 on Water Resources.
 The National Green Growth Strategy for the period 2011-2020
 The Vision Towards 2050 (VGGS)

Vietnam acknowledges the current issues of the conflict in the South China sea and supports the
settlement of disputes pertaining to the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the South
China Sea through diplomatic and legal processes, without threat or use of force, and by peaceful
solutions and means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the 1989 United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Convention).

In conclusion, the state would like to reiterate its firm commitment to its continued
works towards environmental development both at national and global levels. Of late, there have
been a number of columns featuring various calls for action, championing the cause of
environment. One can only hope to see no more after the implementation of UNEPs resolution.
Considering the state’s diplomatic relations with numerous states in the United Nations
Environment Program we hope that this conference will lead to a stronger international
framework to ensure that 2030 Agendas and Sustainable goals are attained and quality of life of
nations and people is improved without compromising that of future generations.
______________________________________

1
https://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/tt_vietnam/geo/
2
https://www.ecolex.org/
3
https://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/tt_baochi/pbnfn/ns210713080029