Circular No. 01/2005/TT-BKH guiding the implementation of the Prime Minister's Decision on Strategic Orientation for Sustainable Development in Vietnam (Vietnam Agenda 21)

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for implementing the Prime Minister's Decisionon Strategic Orientation for Sustainable Development in Vietnam

(Vietnam's Agenda 21 Program)

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Pursuant to Decision No. 153/2004/QĐ-TTg dated August 17, 2004 of the Prime Minister on issuing "Strategic Orientation for Sustainable Development in Vietnam" (Vietnam's Agenda 21 Program);

Pursuant to Decree No. 61/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Planning and Investment;

The Minister of Planning and Investment hereby provides guidelines for implementing the Strategic Orientation for Sustainable Development in Vietnam as follows:

I. OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES OF THE STRATEGIC ORIENTATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM (VIETNAM'S AGENDA 21 PROGRAM)

1. Objectives of the Sustainable Development Strategy

1.1. The objective of sustainable development is to achieve material sufficiency; spiritual and cultural richness; equality among citizens and social consensus; harmony between humans and nature.

1.2. Sustainable development is development that meets current requirements without hindering the ability to meet future generations' needs, ensuring balanced development across three aspects: Economy - Society - Environment;

1.2.1. Sustainable economic development involves harmonizing economic growth targets with cultural and social development, balancing economic growth rates with the use of resources, natural resources, science, and technology, particularly emphasizing clean technology development.

1.2.2. Sustainable social development requires building a society with rapid, stable economic growth, coupled with democracy, fairness, and social progress, where education, training, healthcare, and social welfare must be fully and comprehensively provided for all societal groups.

1.2.3. Sustainable environmental development entails using renewable natural resources within their carrying capacity to restore both quantity and quality. Non-renewable resources must be used sparingly and rationally. Natural environments (air, land, natural landscapes...) and social environments (population, population quality, health, living conditions, labor and study of people...) should not be polluted, degraded, or harmed by human activities. Waste from production and daily life must be treated and recycled promptly, ensuring environmental hygiene, allowing people to live in clean environments...

2. Guiding Principles and Priority Directions for Development

2.1. People are at the center of sustainable development: Sustainable development must take people as the goal of development. Economic growth must be harmonized with social progress and equity. Emphasis should be placed on developing science and technology, viewing these as the foundation and driving force for rapid and sustainable development; utilizing modern and environmentally friendly technologies. Strengthening international economic cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals.

2.2. Sustainable development is the responsibility of all levels of government, ministries, localities, agencies, enterprises, social organizations, communities, and every citizen. Maximizing the involvement of all relevant parties in making decisions about economic, social development, and environmental protection at the local, sectoral, and national levels.

II. CONTENT OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF SECTORS AND LOCALITIES (SECTORAL AND LOCAL AGENDA 21 PROGRAM)

1. Objective

Article 21 Agenda Program of the sector and locality is an action plan that concretizes the objectives, indicators, and solutions in the National Sustainable Development Strategy Orientation (Vietnam's Article 21 Agenda) organized for research, development, and implementation by the Heads of Ministries and sectors; Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees.

2. Basis for building and implementing the Article 21 Agenda Program of the sector and locality

The Article 21 Agenda Program of the sector and locality is developed based on applying the seven criteria set forth at the Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (South Africa, 2002), including:

2.1. Involvement of multiple social components (all citizens, businesses, organizations, schools...);

2.2. A vision agreed upon by all strata of the people;

2.3. Integration of economic, social, and ecological elements into sustainable development goals; 2.4. Cooperation between the government and local organizations in developing and managing the implementation of the Article 21 Agenda Program;

2.5. Having a specific action plan tied to long-term goals for sustainable development;

2.6. Having criteria established as tools for evaluating and monitoring sustainable development goals;

2.7. Having a monitoring and reporting system;

Applying the above criteria, the development of the Article 21 Agenda Program of the sector and locality must ensure the following principles:

- The Article 21 Agenda Program of the sector and locality needs to be developed based on inter-sectoral and inter-regional coordination; closely combining sustainable development plans between sectors and regions; between economic development, social development, and environmental protection. The integration of economic, social, and environmental factors must be clearly reflected in each sector's and locality's sustainable development plan; aligning with the overall strategy.

- During the process of building and implementing the Article 21 Agenda Program of the sector and locality, there must be broad participation from relevant parties (social organizations, businesses, schools, non-governmental organizations, state agencies, and the government) and extensive mobilization of citizen involvement. Medium-term and long-term visions; sustainable development goals and solutions are discussed and negotiated to reach consensus within communities in localities.

- Viewing sustainable development as a cause for all the people, by the people, and for the people. Implementing the principle "people know, people discuss, people act, people inspect." Extensively mobilizing various strata of the people to participate in planning actions and coordinating their implementation; supervising the achievement of sustainable development evaluation indicators; integrating sustainable development goals into local economic and social development goals.

The Article 21 Agenda Program of the sector and locality must fully reflect the following contents:

3. Content

3.1. Assessing the current status of the sector and locality; identifying strengths, weaknesses, and existing issues in economic, social, and environmental fields, thereby comparing them with the requirements of the national sustainable development goals outlined in the National Sustainable Development Strategy Orientation.

3.2. Concretizing the sustainable development perspectives in Vietnam's Sustainable Development Strategy Orientation in the development of the Article 21 Agenda Program for each sector and province/city.

3.3. Determining the system of sustainable development goals and indicators of the sector and locality across three areas: economy, society, and environment. Key issues to focus on include poverty; population quality and health; consumption models and production models, development models in economic sectors, settlement, air cleanliness; resource protection; reduction of environmental pollution...

3.4. Forecasting development resources and the ability to mobilize resources to implement the Article 21 Agenda Program of the sector and locality. Each Ministry, sector, and locality need to develop specific sustainable development programs and projects for their own sectors and localities.

3.5. Developing an action plan to implement the Article 21 Agenda Program of the sector and locality; including a system of solutions to implement the sustainable development plan; a management and supervision system; mobilizing a large number of people from various strata, mass organizations, and businesses to achieve sustainable development goals.

III. STEPS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE ARTICLE 21 AGENDA PROGRAM OF THE SECTOR AND LOCALITY

III. STEPS TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE PROGRAM RESOLUTION 21 OF THE SECTOR AND LOCALITY

Chapter 21 Agenda Program of the Industry and Localities shall be established through the following four steps:

Step 1: Preparation, including the following contents:

- Establishing the Sustainable Development Council (or Steering Committee) of the industry and locality. In cases where it is not possible to establish a Council (or Steering Committee), a temporary working group and a permanent office shall be quickly formed to carry out the preparatory steps for building the program.

- The Council, Steering Committee, or temporary working group shall be decided by the Minister of each Ministry, the Head of each equivalent ministry, government-affiliated agency, Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities (which may entrust the Planning and Investment Department of provinces/cities, the Planning Department, or research units responsible for planning and development in Ministries and sectors to serve as the permanent office).

- The Council, Steering Committee, or temporary working group shall develop a schedule and timeline; plan for coordination and mobilization of community participation; assign persons responsible for implementing the establishment of the Industry and Localities' Chapter 21 Agenda Program.

Step 2: Basic Survey, Determination of Current Status, including the following contents:

Conduct basic surveys of the industry and comprehensive socio-economic and environmental surveys of the locality, on the basis of which analyze and evaluate the current status of the industry and locality, identify strengths, advantages, and weaknesses regarding economic, social, and environmental conditions, focusing on the following specific tasks:

- Review and update industry development plans, product plans, socio-economic development plans of localities.

- Develop a system of basic survey data, calculations, and forecasts about the potential for exploiting advantages, resources, and capital mobilization to implement sustainable development plans.

- Compare the current status with requirements to meet sustainable development goals, strengths and weaknesses that need to be addressed in action plans.

Step 3: Building Documentation for the Industry and Localities' Chapter 21 Agenda Program, including the following contents:

- Formulate a comprehensive program for sustainable development of the industry and locality, including issues such as developing sustainable development perspectives for the industry and locality, setting sustainable development targets and indicators, formulating action projects, selecting sustainable development models for the industry and locality.

To achieve this, Ministries, sectors, and localities need to thoroughly study Vietnam's Chapter 21 Agenda Program, based on which identify challenges and responsibilities in the field of sustainable development of their respective industries and localities. Propose appropriate goals in line with the groups of sustainable development goals, select suitable steps and mechanisms/policies for implementation.

Mobilizing broad participation from all levels of the population, businesses, mass organizations, scientific and technical associations, universities in the process of building the Industry and Localities' Chapter 21 Agenda Program needs to be specifically stipulated according to the principles mentioned above.

- Integrate economic, social, and environmental development goals with each other in a closely connected and harmonious manner. Integration will be carried out according to the following principle:

+ Review each group of development goals and indicators in each sector of Economy-Society-Environment in the Direction of Vietnam's Sustainable Development Strategy.

+ Incorporate sustainable development goals into each group of socio-economic development goals, resource protection, and environmental protection of the industry and locality. Emphasize quality goals, eliminate overlapping goals, and form a unified set of indicators for economic, social, and environmental development towards sustainability.

+ Formulate groups of solutions to implement each group of goals.

Step 4: Direct Implementation, including the following contents:

Depending on the specific situation of each locality and industry, meetings or forums should be organized with wide participation from organizations and mass organizations to promote and assign responsibilities for implementing the Industry and Localities' Chapter 21 Agenda Program based on the following:

- Develop an action plan to implement sustainable development goals of the industry and locality; Specifically assign individuals and units responsible for directing and monitoring each issue and group of goals.

- Develop a monitoring system and regular reporting mechanism.

- Develop criteria for evaluating the implementation of sustainable development goals of the industry and locality.

- Develop a responsibility system and cooperation mechanism to mobilize all sectors, levels, mass organizations, and the local community to participate in implementing sustainable development goals.

IV. FINANCING FOR THE BUILDING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDUSTRY AND LOCALITIES' CHAPTER 21 AGENDA PROGRAM

- Financing for the building and implementation of the Industry and Localities' Chapter 21 Agenda Program shall be mobilized from all sources by the Ministry/industry and locality. This includes seeking support and assistance from international organizations, mobilizing funds from businesses, contributions from social organizations, and the local community...

During the period of building the Chapter 21 Agenda Program, Ministries/industries and localities can use basic survey funds, planning funds, and investment preparation funds provided by the state budget to implement related contents.

During the period of implementing the Chapter 21 Agenda Program, Ministries/industries and localities can mobilize various sources of funding to implement approved projects in accordance with current regulations.

V. IMPLEMENTATION

The Ministers of Ministries, Heads of equivalent ministries, government-affiliated agencies, Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities have the responsibility to organize research, build, and direct the implementation of the Industry and Localities' Chapter 21 Agenda Program.

Annually, the Ministers of Ministries, Heads of equivalent ministries, and Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities have the responsibility to formulate sustainable development plans for their respective Ministries/industries and localities, submit them to the Ministry of Planning and Investment for inclusion in the annual national plan, and at the same time provide periodic reports to the Ministry of Planning and Investment on progress for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

- During the process of organizing and implementing, if there are any issues or new developments arising, it is requested that ministries/departments and localities promptly report to the Ministry of Planning and Investment for coordination and to find appropriate solutions to strictly implement Decision No. 153/2004/QĐ-TTg dated August 17, 2004 of the Prime Minister aimed at successfully implementing the Strategic Orientation for Sustainable Development in Vietnam.

- This Circular shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette./.