Joint Resolution No. 01/2004/NQLT-MTTQ-BTNMT on Coordinating the Implementation of the National Environmental Protection Strategy

JOINT RESOLUTION

ON COOPERATION IN IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION STRATEGY

On the basis of the Environmental Protection Law dated December 27, 1993;
Pursuant to the Law on the Front for Unity and Fatherland of Vietnam dated June 26, 1999;
Pursuant to the Charter of the Front for Unity and Fatherland of Vietnam (amended) adopted at the Sixth National Congress of Delegates on September 22, 2004;
Pursuant to Decree No. 91/2002/NĐ-CP dated November 11, 2002 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

The Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Front for Unity and Fatherland of Vietnam and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment hereby jointly issue this Resolution on cooperation in implementing the National Environment Protection Strategy as follows:

I. OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Promote changes in awareness and actions of the entire population from individuals, families to community neighborhoods, maintaining regular activities to prevent and mitigate environmental pollution and degradation; improve the quality of living and working environments; protect and use natural resources efficiently.

2. Enhance awareness, knowledge, and effectiveness of cadres at all levels of the Front in organizing, guiding, and coordinating the entire population's participation in environmental protection and sustainable development according to established programs and plans.

3. Create conditions to maintain and enhance the quality and effectiveness of the cooperative relationship between the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels with member organizations and authorities in the field of environmental protection.

II. CONTENTS OF COORDINATED ACTIVITIES

1. Strengthen propaganda and mobilization efforts among various social strata, primarily member organizations and those directly mobilized by the Front, and each individual in the community to continuously raise awareness, consciousness, and specific actions in participating in environmental protection.

2. Organize to create conditions for each citizen to exercise their right to be masters, increase their proactivity and initiative in building and implementing policies, laws of the Party and State, as well as community regulations related to environmental protection.

3. Implement socialization and diversification of organizational forms and operational methods; particularly focus on promoting and enhancing the quality and effectiveness of mass movements and campaigns to mobilize the entire population to participate in environmental protection. Effectively implement the Program "The Entire Population Participates in Environmental Protection" in the National Environment Protection Strategy until 2010 and orientations until 2020 approved by the Prime Minister.The Entire Population Participates in Environmental Protectionin the National Environmental Protection Strategy to 2010 and orientations to 2020, which has been approved by the Prime Minister.

4. Strengthen solidarity and create consensus in society for the cause of environmental protection; participate in resolving disputes, conflicts of interest between economic and social development and environmental protection and the use of natural resources in a timely manner.

5. Promote the inspection and supervision activities of the people to contribute to enhancing the capacity and effectiveness of officials and civil servants in performing state management functions over the environment.

III. ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES

A. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE FRONT FOR UNITY AND FATHERLAND OF VIETNAM

1. Guide and coordinate the effective and practical implementation of this joint resolution at all levels of the Front, member organizations, and outstanding individuals from ethnic groups, religions, and social strata directly mobilized by the Front.

2. Study and compile materials and publications to serve propaganda, education, and training for cadres at all levels of the Front and social groups directly mobilized by the Front to maintain regular environmental communication activities in residential areas.

3. Guide the Front at all levels, especially at the grassroots level, to regularly collect public opinions, promptly identify and recommend solutions to existing issues and obstacles arising in the field of environmental protection; gather community strength in enforcing environmental protection policies and laws; coordinate with relevant agencies in soliciting public participation in environmental status reports and environmental impact assessments for economic and social development programs, projects, and plans related to communities; encourage organizations and individuals to actively contribute environmental taxes, fees, and funds as prescribed by law.

4. Specificize and standardize criteria for integrating environmental protection tasks with mass movements and campaigns, particularly the campaign "All People Unite to Build a Civilized Lifestyle in Residential Areas" and the campaign "Day for the Poor," linking environmental protection work with sustainable development; contribute to motivating, honoring, and expanding models and examples of environmental protection to improve the quality and appearance of residential areas, making them increasingly "Green - Clean - Beautiful," and raising public awareness and knowledge about living harmoniously with the environment, using natural resources reasonably; combat bad habits, customs, and practices in production, daily life, and consumption that harm the environment and natural resources.

5. Encourage and motivate various social strata both within and outside the country to invest, operate businesses, and provide services in environmental protection while leveraging local resources to build infrastructure for environmental sanitation together with the State; improve and enhance the quality of welfare and services for waste collection, treatment, and processing; clean water supply; maintain and beautify the environmental landscape of residential areas.

6. Strengthen mobilization efforts to encourage compatriots both inside and outside the country to uphold traditions of unity, mutual assistance, and support for people in difficult circumstances, social policy beneficiaries, and war victims in mitigating natural disasters and environmental incidents, particularly improving social welfare and services related to environmental sanitation, clean water usage, health care, etc.

7. Leverage the role of grassroots Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees, Mass Work Boards, People's Supervision Boards, and voluntary forms of organization and activity for environmental protection to promote mediation and resolution of conflicts, disputes, and conflicts of interest between economic and social development and environmental protection and natural resource utilization affecting communities; simultaneously strengthen the inspection and supervision activities of the people over officials, civil servants, and authorities in performing environmental protection functions and responsibilities.

B. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

1. Direct the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment to coordinate with competent agencies and work together with all levels of the Front to implement the Joint Resolution and the Action Program of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in participating in environmental protection.

2. Provide materials, publications, technical support, and experts for the Front and its member organizations to maintain regular environmental communication activities within communities; train and instruct cadres at all levels of the Front and outstanding individuals directly mobilized by the Front.

3. Take the lead and coordinate with all levels of the Front and related organizations in organizing public consultations on opinions and suggestions regarding policies, laws, and programs concerning environmental protection; reports on current environmental conditions and environmental impact assessments for economic and social development programs, plans, and projects that affect community residential areas.

4. Coordinate with the Front and its member organizations to propose timely supplements and improvements to mechanisms and policies to encourage and honor organizations and individuals actively participating in nationwide environmental protection movements.

5. Coordinate and create conditions for all levels of the Front to intensify supervision, detect, and promptly recommend actions against pollution, environmental degradation, natural resource violations, and resolve conflicts of interest related to environmental and natural resource protection affecting communities.

IV. ORGANIZATION AND GUIDANCE FOR IMPLEMENTATION

1. Working System

a) Maintain regular information exchange and periodic joint meetings between leaders of both sides to promptly address issues arising during the implementation of the Joint Resolution.

b) Annually, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Standing Committee of the Central Vietnam Fatherland Front will report on the results of implementing the Joint Resolution and develop plans for future implementation.

2. Coordination Contact Points At the central level, the Environmental Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Theoretical Work Center under the Central Vietnam Fatherland Front are the coordination contact points, assisting leaders in organizing the implementation of this Resolution.

3. Operating Budget

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will coordinate with relevant agencies in allocating annual environmental protection budget funds from the state budget to the Vietnam Fatherland Front to implement the contents of the Joint Resolution and the Action Program for environmental protection.

4. Implementation Organization

a) Based on this Joint Resolution, all levels of the Front and environmental protection agencies shall study and concretize the implementation to suit local conditions, circumstances, and key tasks of each locality and base.

b) The Standing Committees of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels and environmental management agencies at all levels are responsible for implementing this Resolution.

c) This Joint Resolution shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, the Standing Committees of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels and environmental and natural resource management agencies at all levels shall promptly reflect these issues to the Standing Committee of the Central Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consideration and resolution.