Party Chief: Environment, climate resilience emerge as new development pillars

General Secretary and President To Lam chaired a working session with the Government Party Committee and relevant agencies to review the implementation of Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW, issued on June 3, 2013 by the 11th Party Central Committee, on proactively responding to climate change, strengthening resource management, and protecting the environment.

After hearing reports and exchanging views, General Secretary and President To Lam stressed that environmental protection and proactive adaptation to climate change must be placed within the overall goal of rapid and sustainable development, sustaining high economic growth over many consecutive years, and building a country whose development is grounded in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. He said there is a need to clarify and deepen the shift in thinking on environmental protection and proactive climate adaptation.

The General Secretary and the President affirmed that environmental protection and climate adaptation are pillars of the new development model set out by the Party's 14th National Congress. Investment in the environment is investment in the future, he said, calling for a strong shift from a reactive mindset to one of proactively shaping development, and from an approach focused on pollution treatment, remediation, and passive response toward early and far-sighted prevention, green development, and building resilience that harmonizes humans and nature for the sustainable benefit of future generations.

People must be placed at the center of all goals, targets, and solutions, he said. The highest objective is not merely meeting technical standards but ensuring that people can live in a safe, clean environment, with their health, lives, livelihoods, and property protected from natural disasters and climate risks. Priority must be given to addressing air pollution, water pollution, solid waste, plastic waste, pollution from craft villages and industrial clusters, flooding, landslides, drought, and saltwater intrusion. Green transformation must go hand in hand with social welfare and sustainable livelihoods, ensuring that vulnerable groups are not left behind.

The General Secretary and President said that strategic breakthroughs must be more clearly defined, particularly in institutions, science and technology, and national governance. He called for stepping up the application of strategic technologies in line with Politburo Resolution 57, building a national digital data system on natural resources, environment, and climate, developing a carbon market, improving economic tools for resource and environmental management, and strengthening forecasting, early warning, and risk governance capacity.

He emphasized the need for a strong shift from administrative management toward modern governance based on data, technology, and market mechanisms. Alongside this, the legal system must be made more synchronized and transparent, decentralization and delegation of authority must be promoted alongside inspection and oversight, and social resources, the private sector, and international cooperation must be effectively mobilized for green development and climate adaptation goals.

Investment in the environment and climate, he said, is investment in sustainable development, in public health, in the competitiveness of the economy, and in the country's future. The state budget should play a leading role while also opening sufficiently strong mechanisms to mobilize the private sector through green credit, green bonds, the carbon market, public-private partnerships, and international cooperation. Resources should be allocated with clear focus and priority given to environmental hot spots, areas vulnerable in terms of essential infrastructure, and projects with spillover effects.

He called for deeper research into strategic issues related to water security, food security, energy security, mineral security, maritime security strategy, and biodiversity conservation, all of which should be placed within the overall framework of the strategy for early and far-sighted national defense. He also called for elevating thinking on the direction of international cooperation on environmental and climate issues.

The General Secretary and President noted that environment and climate change are global issues, and Viet Nam therefore needs to demonstrate a clear, proactive stance in participating in international cooperation mechanisms, making the most of international knowledge, governance experience, and resources to serve environmental protection, climate adaptation, and green transformation.

However, he said, international cooperation should not be limited to receiving support. Viet Nam needs to actively participate in shaping regional and global initiatives, standards, and cooperation mechanisms on environment and climate, contributing positively to the shared efforts of the international community, thereby enhancing the country's standing, prestige, and role, while ensuring harmony between national interests and international responsibilities. He stressed the need for a clear position that the implementation of international commitments on environmental protection, climate adaptation, and greenhouse gas emission reductions must be suited to each country's conditions, with appropriate steps and roadmaps.