Viet Nam, Finland strengthen cooperation in environment and climate

On October 21 (local time), at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, General Secretary To Lam and President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation in the fields of environment, biodiversity, and climate change between Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Finland’s Ministry of the Environment.

According to the content of the Memorandum of Understanding, the objective of cooperation between the two sides is to enhance mutual understanding and establish forms of collaboration to implement activities that promote knowledge sharing and best practices in the fields of environment, biodiversity, and climate change, thereby contributing to sustainable development. The signing cerenomy opened up practical opportunities for collaboration in environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and climate change response areas of great significance to the sustainable development goals of both nations

Various forms of cooperation agreed for implementation

Activities under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding include: exchanging knowledge and experience on environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and climate change response, excluding information classified as national secrets;

Exchanging data and information related to environmental legislation, research, technology, and clean industries;

Organizing conferences, workshops, training courses, and joint meetings, with priority given to those held in conjunction with international conferences or existing cooperation processes;

Encouraging and facilitating cooperation between the two Ministries, research institutes, universities, private enterprises, and stakeholders in the areas of circular economy transition, environmental protection, climate change response, and efficient water resource management;

Implementing joint research and development projects, programs, and other activities of mutual interest; and other forms of cooperation as mutually agreed upon.

Cooperation focuses on key priority areas

According to the Memorandum of Understanding, cooperation activities will focus on the following areas: environmental protection and pollution control, particularly air, water, and plastic pollution;

Nature conservation and biodiversity protection;

Circular economy, including environmental standards, technology, and expertise, as well as the extended producer responsibility (EPR);

Carbon pricing, carbon markets, and carbon trading;

Climate science and technology;

Management of surface and groundwater resources, including controlled aquifer recharge;

And other areas of cooperation as mutually agreed upon.

The two sides agreed to designate the International Cooperation Department under Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Department for Administration and International Affairs under Finland’s Ministry of the Environment as focal points for planning, coordinating, and reviewing the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding.

These focal points will facilitate connections, information exchange, and the implementation of cooperative activities among relevant agencies and implementing organizations within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang stated that the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding between Vietnam - Finland marks a new milestone in cooperation between Vietnam and Finland, opening up practical opportunities for collaboration in environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and climate change response. This holds a significant importance for the sustainable development goals of both nations.