Resolution of the 7th Central Conference, Session XI, on proactively responding to climate change, strengthening resource management and environmental protection

(Baonghean) -Editor's note: On June 3, 2013, on behalf of the Party Central Committee, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong signed and issued the Resolution of the 7th Conference of the 11th Central Committee on "Proactively responding to climate change, strengthening resource management and environmental protection" (No. 24-NQ/TW). Nghe An Newspaper respectfully introduces the full text of the Resolution.

I- SITUATION AND CAUSES

In recent times, the work of responding to climate change, preventing natural disasters, managing resources and protecting the environment has received attention, has made progress and achieved some important initial results. However, the response to climate change is still passive and confused; natural disasters are increasingly unusual, causing many losses in human lives and property; resources have not been managed, exploited and used effectively and sustainably; some types of resources have been overexploited leading to degradation and depletion; environmental pollution continues to increase, seriously in some places; overcoming environmental consequences left by war is still slow; biodiversity is declining, the risk of ecological imbalance is occurring on a large scale, negatively affecting socio-economic development, health and people's lives.

The above limitations and weaknesses have objective causes, but the main causes are subjective. The awareness and vision of Party committees, authorities, businesses and communities on this work are not complete, lack unity, still focus on short-term economic benefits, do not attach importance to sustainable development. Some Party policies have not been thoroughly grasped and institutionalized fully and promptly. The legal system is not synchronous; some mechanisms and policies are not close to reality, lack feasibility. The quality of forecasting and planning work is still limited, not keeping up with development requirements, comprehensiveness, inter-sectoral, inter-regional; the focus, key points and implementation resources are not clear. The organization of the apparatus, state management and the assignment, decentralization and coordination between ministries, branches, sectors and localities are still not tight; the implementation organization is not really proactive and resolute; the effectiveness and efficiency of inspection, examination, supervision and handling of violations are not high. The socialization policy has not yet mobilized the participation of organizations, associations, businesses, communities and people.

II- VIEWPOINTS AND GOALS

1- Viewpoint

- Proactively responding to climate change, strengthening resource management and environmental protection are issues of special importance, with great influence, relationships, interactions, and together determine the sustainable development of the country; are the basis and premise for planning guidelines and policies for socio-economic development, ensuring national defense, security and social security. This is one of the most important tasks of the entire political system; is the responsibility and obligation of agencies, organizations, enterprises and communities, in which the State plays a leading role, under the leadership of the Party and the participation and supervision of the whole society.

- Proactively responding to climate change, strengthening resource management and environmental protection must be based on a comprehensive and unified, inter-sectoral and inter-regional management approach. It must both meet immediate requirements and ensure long-term benefits, of which long-term benefits are fundamental. It must be comprehensive while also having a focus and key points; taking appropriate steps in each stage; relying mainly on internal resources, while effectively promoting support resources and international experience.

- Climate change is a global issue, a serious challenge for all humanity in the 21st century. Responding to climate change must be placed in a global context; it is not only a challenge but also an opportunity to promote the transformation of the growth model towards sustainable development. Adaptation and mitigation must be carried out simultaneously, in which adaptation to climate change and proactive prevention and avoidance of natural disasters are the focus.

- Resources are national assets, resources, and natural capital that are especially important for national development. Resources must be fully valued, priced, accounted for in the economy, managed, and protected; exploited, used economically, effectively, and sustainably, linked to the goals of socio-economic development, and ensuring resource security. Focus on developing and using renewable energy, new materials, and recycling.

- The environment is a global issue. Environmental protection is both a goal and a fundamental content of sustainable development. Strengthening environmental protection must follow the motto of behaving in harmony with nature, following natural laws, prevention is the main thing; combining control, overcoming pollution, improving the environment, conserving nature and biodiversity; taking protecting people's health as the top goal; resolutely eliminating projects that pollute the environment and affect public health. Investing in environmental protection is investing in sustainable development.

2- Objective

a) General objectives

- By 2020, basically, proactively adapt to climate change, prevent natural disasters, reduce greenhouse gas emissions; have fundamental changes in exploiting and using resources in a reasonable, effective and sustainable manner, restrain the increase in environmental pollution and biodiversity loss to ensure the quality of the living environment, maintain ecological balance, and move towards a green, environmentally friendly economy.

- By 2050, proactively respond to climate change; exploit and use resources rationally, economically, effectively and sustainably; ensure the quality of the living environment and ecological balance, and strive to achieve environmental targets equivalent to the current levels of developed industrial countries in the region.

b) Specific goals by 2020

- On responding to climate change:

Improve the capacity of professional agencies to forecast, warn of natural disasters, and monitor climate change. Form in each member of society a sense of proactive prevention and avoidance of natural disasters, and adaptation to climate change. Gradually reduce human and property damage caused by natural disasters.

Proactively prevent, combat and limit the impacts of high tides, floods and saltwater intrusion due to rising sea levels on coastal areas, especially the Mekong Delta, Red River Delta, Central Coast, first of all Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Ca Mau and other coastal cities.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 8-10% compared to 2010.

- On resource management:

Assess the potential and value of important resources on land. Achieve important progress in basic investigation of marine resources.

Planning, managing, exploiting, using national resources economically, effectively and sustainably. Preventing the trend of decreasing freshwater and forest resources; improving water use efficiency per unit of GDP. Ensuring land balance for socio-economic development; maintaining and flexibly using 3.8 million hectares of land dedicated to rice cultivation to ensure food security and improve land use efficiency. Effectively and sustainably exploiting ecology, landscape, and biological resources. Minimizing the export of raw minerals.

Transform the energy use structure towards increasing the proportion of renewable energy and new energy to over 5% of total primary commercial energy; reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP.

- On environmental protection:

Prevent the emergence and thoroughly handle establishments that cause serious environmental pollution; 70% of wastewater discharged into the environment of river basins is treated; destroy and treat over 85% of hazardous waste, 100% of medical waste; reuse or recycle over 65% of household waste.

Strive for 95% of urban population and 90% of rural population to have access to clean, hygienic water. Control safety and handle environmental pollution caused by war consequences. Improve air quality in urban areas and densely populated areas. Significantly improve the environment of craft villages and rural areas.

Manage exploitation appropriately, soon end exploitation of natural forests, increase the area of ​​nature reserves to over 3 million hectares; increase forest cover to over 45%.

III- KEY TASKS

1- General tasks

- Promote the transformation of the growth model associated with restructuring the economy towards green growth and sustainable development. Issue a set of indicators to assess the results of sustainable development and green growth and include them in the national criteria; pilot the development of green economic models, green industry, green cities, and green countryside.

- Implement functional zoning based on ecological characteristics, resource potential and climate change adaptation as a basis for development planning; marine spatial planning linked with development space on land; integrate climate change response goals, resource management and environmental protection into development planning of sectors, fields and socio-economic development planning, ensuring local defense and security.

- Establish and apply models to forecast the overall impact of climate change on socio-economic development, resources and environment. Pilot the application of integrated and unified management methods on resources, environment and climate change adaptation for river basins and coastal areas, then replicate nationwide.

- Build a comprehensive and unified database system on resources, environment and climate change according to international standards. Have appropriate mechanisms for exploiting, sharing information and effectively using the database.

2- Specific tasks

a) On responding to climate change

- Building capacity to forecast, warn, proactively prevent, avoid and mitigate natural disasters, and adapt to climate change.

Build and develop capacity for climate change research, monitoring, forecasting and warning, and natural disasters to a level equivalent to that of leading countries in the Southeast Asian region. Regularly update and complete specific climate change and sea level rise scenarios for the period up to 2030 and vision to 2050.

Transforming the structure, crop and livestock varieties, adjusting crop seasons, and agricultural production techniques to adapt to climate change. Enhancing knowledge, improving adaptive capacity, and ensuring livelihoods for people in areas at risk of being severely affected by climate change and areas frequently affected by natural disasters.

Research and apply new technologies to adapt to climate change in urban construction, development, energy use, transportation, construction materials, drainage, etc.

Proactively prepare plans and conditions for natural disaster prevention, avoidance and mitigation suitable for each sector, field, region, and area, especially coastal localities, mountainous areas, and areas vulnerable to natural disasters. Have proactive plans to handle the worst-case scenarios that affect production, people's lives, and ensure national defense and security. Improve search, rescue, and disease prevention and control capacity. Focus on taking care of people's health in areas strongly affected by climate change. Promote responsibility and mobilize businesses and communities to actively participate in preventing, avoiding, mitigating natural disasters, and responding to climate change.

Implement the program to upgrade and ensure the safety of reservoirs, especially in the Central region, Central Highlands, and Northern midland and mountainous areas. Upgrade vulnerable sections of sea and river dykes, build sluices to prevent salinity and retain fresh water. Protect, promote the restoration and planting of mangrove forests, coastal protection forests, and upstream protection forests.

Protect flood escape space in river basins and riverbeds, first of all for the Red River, Mekong River, Cau River, Nhue - Day River, Dong Nai River, Saigon River and other large rivers.

Strengthen and build new water supply and drainage works in urban areas, especially coastal areas.

- Strengthen measures to prevent, combat and limit the impacts of high tides, floods and saltwater intrusion due to rising sea levels.

Develop flood risk maps according to sea level rise scenarios at the commune level. Review, supplement and adjust strategies and plans for sectoral and sectoral development, regional and local socio-economic development in accordance with sea level rise scenarios. Proactively relocate and rearrange residential areas in areas frequently affected by floods, storms and areas at risk of flash floods and landslides.

Implement flood prevention projects for Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Ca Mau, and other coastal cities, especially in the Mekong Delta.

- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions; protect and develop natural ecosystems, and increase the ability to absorb greenhouse gases.

Investigate, inventory, develop roadmaps and plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions suitable for each industry, field and locality.

Promote greenhouse gas emission reduction activities suitable to our country's conditions on the basis of financial and technological support from countries and international organizations. Develop domestic carbon credit exchange market and participate in the global carbon market.

Prioritize the implementation of greenhouse gas emission reduction programs through efforts to combat deforestation and forest degradation and create livelihoods for communities.

Promote the implementation of the national target program on economical and efficient energy use.

b) On resource management

- Step up investigation and assessment of potential, reserves, economic value, current status and development trends of national resources.

Pay attention to basic investigation of resources, especially mineral resources, water resources, and marine resources. Focus on basic geological investigation of deep-sea minerals, and discover new types of minerals.

Step by step identify, evaluate values, set up accounts, and account in the economy for national resources.

Evaluate and promote the values ​​of ecosystem services, landscapes, and genetic resources.

- Planning, managing, exploiting, using national resources rationally, effectively and sustainably.

Develop strategies to protect, exploit and use important resources for national development. Establish transparent management and monitoring mechanisms to ensure rational, effective and sustainable use of national resources.

Minimize and gradually stop exporting raw and semi-processed minerals, and promote deep processing. For specific strategic minerals such as coal, oil and gas, there should be specific policies to balance imports and exports. Orientate the reserve and import of some important minerals to meet the country's long-term socio-economic development needs.

Innovate the work of planning and land use planning; build a land database. Promote economical, reasonable and effective land use; combine protection of area and fertility of agricultural land; gradually overcome fragmentation and small-scale land use. Promote the exploitation of unused land funds, open new directions in exploiting midland and mountainous land funds for non-agricultural purposes.

Protect, prevent and combat desertification and desertification... and ensure land area for sustainable forest development according to planning, especially in the mountainous regions of the Northwest, North Central and Central Highlands.

Planning the exploitation and protection of water resources, strengthening the management of water resources according to river basins; storing water, regulating water resources to serve socio-economic development. Strengthening the control of waste sources that pollute water resources, strictly controlling the exploitation and use of water to ensure savings, efficiency and sustainability. Actively cooperating with countries and international organizations in protecting transnational water resources.

Control exploitation activities, combat and prevent destructive fishing to protect aquatic resources, especially in coastal areas.

- Promote the development and use of new energy, renewable energy, new raw materials, fuels and materials to replace traditional resources.

Promote investment in the development and use of new and renewable energy; promote the transformation of energy use structure towards increasing the proportion of new and renewable energy use in the total national energy. Encourage economic sectors to participate in investment in the development of new and renewable energy.

Promote cooperation in exploration and exploitation of external resources to serve the needs of domestic socio-economic development. Develop production of new raw materials, fuels and materials to replace traditional resources.

c) On environmental protection

- Prevention and control of sources of environmental pollution.

Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of strategic environmental assessment and environmental impact assessment, ensuring that strategies, plans, and development projects meet environmental protection requirements from the establishment, approval, and implementation stages. Prohibit the import of technology and the implementation of new investment projects using outdated technology that cause serious environmental pollution, waste raw materials and resources, and have low efficiency.

Implement environmental protection management mechanisms according to each type and level of environmental impact for production and business establishments. Implement a roadmap for applying environmental standards and regulations (emissions and technology) equivalent to the group of leading countries in the ASEAN region. Strengthen environmental pollution control, especially environmental pollution in industrial zones and clusters, mineral exploitation and processing sites, craft villages, river basins, large cities and rural areas. Control air quality in urban areas and cities with high population density. Control pollution from agricultural production (pesticide residues, straw burning, etc.) that affect people's health and lives.

Strengthening the inspection, supervision and environmental control of investment and technology transfer activities to prevent the import of outdated technology, machinery, equipment, raw materials and fuels that do not meet environmental requirements from abroad into our country. Limiting the adverse impacts of international integration and globalization on our country's environment.

Promote the implementation of investment programs and projects on wastewater treatment, especially wastewater containing heavy metals, radioactive substances, medical wastewater, industrial wastewater, wastewater from agricultural, forestry and seafood processing, and urban domestic wastewater. Focus on solid waste treatment and hazardous waste management. Promote reuse, recycling, production, and energy recovery from waste.

Develop the environmental economy based on the environmental industry, environmental protection services and waste recycling. Promote the socialization of environmental protection activities, promote the development and use of new energy, clean energy, renewable energy, sustainable production and consumption.

- Overcoming pollution, improving environmental quality and people's living conditions, limiting the impact of environmental pollution on people's health.

Pay attention to improving the quality of living environment, providing clean water and environmental sanitation services to people, especially in urban areas, industrial zones, clusters, craft villages, rural areas, remote areas, islands, and particularly disadvantaged areas.

Fully assess the damage caused by environmental pollution and clearly identify the responsibilities of agencies, organizations, businesses and individuals. Focus on thoroughly and decisively handling establishments that cause serious environmental pollution; apply strong sanctions, handle strictly, and force establishments that cause environmental pollution to comply with requirements on environmental protection, pollution reduction, and waste treatment according to the provisions of law.

Focus on improving heavily polluted lakes, ponds, canals, ditches, river sections and streams, first of all at the source, in urban areas and residential areas. Concentrate resources on implementing the national target program to overcome pollution and improve the environment of the Cau River, Nhue - Day River and Dong Nai River basins.

Strictly implement measures to restore the environment after mineral exploitation. Speed ​​up the progress of mine clearance and remediation, rehabilitate dioxin-contaminated lands, return clean land for socio-economic development, improve the investment environment, and ensure safety for the people.

Focus on improving air quality, trees, and recreational spaces in urban areas and residential areas, especially large cities.

- Protect and develop forests, conserve nature and biodiversity.

Protect, restore, and regenerate natural forests, promote afforestation, especially mangrove forests, coastal protection forests, and upstream forests. Effectively prevent deforestation and forest fires. Stop logging in natural forests soon.

Strengthen management and expand the area of ​​existing nature reserves where conditions permit and accelerate the establishment of new nature reserves. Prioritize resources for landscape, ecological and natural heritage protection.

Strictly protect wild animals, crop varieties, medicinal plants, valuable livestock, rare and endangered species. Prevent the invasion and development of invasive alien species. Strengthen risk management from genetically modified organisms.

IV- MAIN SOLUTIONS

1- Strengthen and innovate propaganda and education work, raise awareness, form a sense of proactive response to climate change, use resources economically and protect the environment.

Diversify forms, innovate content, identify priority subjects of propaganda and education; incorporate climate change response, resource management and environmental protection into training programs at all levels of secondary and university education, and training of leaders and managers. Disseminate experiences, build capacity and skills to prevent natural disasters and adapt to climate change for all people, businesses and the whole society.

Strengthen information and propaganda work, create public opinion to condemn and unify awareness of the need to strictly handle acts of wasteful use of resources, deforestation, environmental pollution, hunting and consumption of wild animals.

Raise the sense of responsibility for environmental protection among leaders, managers at all levels, sectors, enterprises and all people. Develop criteria and standards for environmental protection in the activities of agencies, organizations, enterprises, cadres and party members. Form cultural institutions and environmental ethics in society. Conduct environmental assessment and classification for sectors and localities.

2- Promote research and application of scientific and technological advances in responding to climate change, resource management and environmental protection.

Focus on scientific research on climate change response, resource management and environmental protection. Early formation of some key scientific fields such as renewable energy, waste recycling, new materials, astronomy...

Promote innovation in production technology towards environmental friendliness, energy saving, efficient use of resources, low waste and low carbon; research, develop and receive transfer of advanced technology for climate change response, resource management and environmental protection, with a focus on non-structural solutions.

Strengthening the application of remote sensing technology, new and advanced technology on information technology platform in forecasting, warning, investigating, assessing, responding to climate change, resource management and environmental protection.

Develop and implement key state-level science and technology programs to serve the implementation of key goals, tasks, and key solutions on climate change response, resource management, and environmental protection.

3- Strengthening state management of climate change response, resource management, and environmental protection

Focus on building and perfecting laws on climate change response, resource management, environmental protection and related fields such as investment, tax, handling of administrative and civil violations... in the direction of supplementing and combining to overcome legal overlaps and conflicts to create a favorable legal environment for performing tasks.

Improve the mechanism for resolving disputes and conflicts in response to climate change, resource exploitation and use, and environmental protection. Amend and supplement administrative, economic, and criminal sanctions on resource management and environmental protection, ensuring sufficient deterrence. Strengthen inspection, examination, and strict handling of violations of the law.

Research to improve the organizational structure and perfect mechanisms and policies to mobilize and effectively use all resources in a comprehensive, unified, and centralized manner, clearly defining functions and tasks, thoroughly overcoming the fragmentation and overlap in state management of climate change response, resource management and environmental protection. Develop inter-sectoral and inter-regional coordination mechanisms; mechanisms and policies to encourage socialization; mechanisms for people to effectively monitor resource exploitation management, environmental protection and climate change response.

4- Innovate and improve financial mechanisms and policies, strengthen and diversify resources for climate change response, resource management and environmental protection
Combine increased budget spending with diversification of domestic and foreign investment sources, especially preferential capital sources for climate change response, resource management and environmental protection. Promote the role and responsibility of specialized management ministries in mobilizing, managing and using resources.

Every year, prioritize appropriate budget allocation for basic investigation, environmental pollution treatment, biodiversity conservation and climate change response. Prioritize budget allocation for effective implementation of the National Target Program to overcome pollution and improve the environment of Cau River, Nhue River - Day River, Dong Nai River. Ensure transparent, appropriate and effective use of ODA capital and other international support sources.

Thoroughly grasp and effectively apply the principles: polluters must pay for the costs of handling, remedying consequences, improving and restoring the environment; those who benefit from resources and the environment must have the obligation to contribute to reinvesting in resource management and environmental protection.

Implement policies to encourage, provide incentives and support for businesses and people to participate in activities to respond to climate change, manage resources and protect the environment; support people in planting and protecting forests, especially upstream forests, coastal mangrove forests, and people affected by excessive resource exploitation.

There is a roadmap to eliminate price support mechanisms and policies for fossil fuels by 2020; implement price compensation for the first 10 years for projects developing new energy, renewable energy, clean energy, waste recycling, and electricity production from waste.

5- Respect international cooperation and integration in climate change response, resource management and environmental protection

Actively cooperate and integrate internationally; attach importance to participating in and implementing international treaties. Enhance information and experience exchange and policy dialogue with other countries on climate change response, resource management, environmental protection and the implementation of the millennium goals.

Strengthen cooperation with relevant countries, international organizations and forums to protect transboundary water resources, access new technologies and mobilize resources for greenhouse gas emission reduction, climate change adaptation and environmental protection.

Promote cooperation in Asia - Europe, Asia - Pacific, East Asia, within ASEAN, Mekong sub-region in climate change response, resource management and environmental protection.

V- IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

1- Party committees and organizations at all levels shall organize research, disseminate and develop plans to implement the Resolution in accordance with the situation of the sector, locality, agency and unit; supplement the targets stated in the Resolution into the annual plans of the sector, locality, agency and unit and annually review and evaluate the implementation.

2- The Party Delegation of the National Assembly leads the review, amendment, and supplementation of legal documents related to the field of state management of natural resources and environment to create a unified and synchronous legal basis for the implementation and supervision of the implementation of the Resolution nationwide.

3- The Government Party Executive Committee leads the adjustment of planning, plans, and socio-economic development programs; amends and supplements sub-law documents; regularly monitors, inspects, and evaluates the implementation situation and promptly adjusts specific programs, plans, and solutions in accordance with practical requirements.

4- The Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organizations promote the work of mobilizing people of all walks of life to actively participate in activities to respond to climate change, manage resources, protect the environment and monitor the implementation of the Resolution.

5- The Central Propaganda Department shall preside over the organization of propaganda, dissemination and implementation of the Resolution to Party committees at all levels, Party cells and Party members.

The Central Economic Commission shall preside over monitoring, inspecting and urging the implementation of the Resolution and periodically report to the Politburo.