Three strategic breakthroughs pave the way for modern environmental governance

Following the 2020 - 2025 term, which left many significant marks, the environmental sector is entering a new stage driven by a strong desire for transformation: building modern environmental governance, promoting green growth and sustainable development, and ensuring the right of every citizen to live in a clean environment.

Environment: a pillar of sustainable development

The global context is witnessing major fluctuations: increasingly severe climate change, rising transboundary pollution, and a persistent, urgent need for economic growth. Vietnam has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Realizing this commitment requires a comprehensive shift, from development mindset to environmental management actions.

The environmental sector clearly recognizes that the Party and the Government have placed environmental protection on par with economic development and social progress. This is not merely a developmental requirement but a core factor ensuring national security and elevating Vietnam's position on the international stage.

According to the Department of Environment, the consistent viewpoint for the 2025–2030 period is to integrate environmental protection into all major policies and guidelines of the Party and the State, considering it a political responsibility for the entire system, every official, enterprise, and citizen.

The pioneering and exemplary role of Party Committees and leaders will be the decisive factor in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of state management in environmental protection.

In the new term, the environmental sector has set a general goal of actively preventing, controlling, and mitigating pollution; gradually overcoming environmental degradation; effectively responding to climate change; improving the quality of living environments; and restoring damaged ecosystems.

By 2030, the goal is to achieve standard collection and treatment for 95% of urban solid household waste, reducing the landfill rate to below 50%; strengthen the control of dust and emissions; and progressively improve air quality in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as in key industrial zones.

These goals are not just targets, but a commitment to a new development model: green, circular, low-emission, and nature-friendly.

Three strategic breakthroughs in an era of ascent

To achieve these goals, the sector has identified three strategic breakthroughs as the foundation for the upcoming period:

• Breakthrough in Institutions and Policy: This involves building and synchronously perfecting the legal system, mechanisms, and policies on environmental protection, ensuring they are transparent, feasible, and internationally integrated. Renewing the mindset in policy development will help enhance enforcement, strengthen inter-sectoral coordination, and promote the role of the community and enterprises.
• Breakthrough in Investment: Environmental protection must be regarded as an investment in the future. The sector will effectively mobilize social resources with flexible financial mechanisms, encouraging the public-private partnership model and attracting private investment in environmental technical infrastructure. The State will maintain a leading role, while enterprises and citizens will be facilitated to participate and share the benefits.
• Breakthrough in Science, Technology, and Innovation: This is the key driving force for the "era of ascent." The sector will accelerate the application of digital technology across the entire management chain, from prevention and monitoring to treatment. Technologies such as AI, IoT, and Big Data will be integrated into the environmental governance system to build an early warning and forecasting network. Concurrently, it will develop an innovation ecosystem and improve the quality of human resources to master technology, making science a pillar of modern environmental protection.

The achievements of the 2020–2025 term provide an important foundation for the environmental sector to confidently move forward on a new journey, a journey of green aspiration. With the guidance of the Party and the Government, and the accompanying support of all levels, sectors, enterprises, and citizens, Viet Nam is moving closer to a green economy and a sustainably developed nation where every citizen can live in a clean environment, both today and tomorrow.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Agriculture and Environment Sector Day and the First National Emulation Congress, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is organizing a series of events running from July to December 2025. The centerpiece of this is the Ceremony celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Agriculture and Environment Sector and the First National Emulation Congress, scheduled for the morning of November 12, 2025, at the National Convention Center (Hanoi), with over 1,200 delegates in attendance. VAN News will broadcast the event live.