CIRCULAR

Regulations on Urban Green Growth Indicators

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THE MINISTER OF CONSTRUCTION

Pursuant to the Law on Statistics 2015;

Pursuant to Decree No. 94/2016/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2016 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Statistics;

Pursuant to Decree No. 81/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 17, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Construction;

Implementing Decision No. 1393/QĐ-TTg dated September 25, 2012 of the Prime Minister approving the National Strategy on Green Growth;

Implementing Decision No. 403/QĐ-TTg dated March 20, 2014 of the Prime Minister approving the National Action Plan on Green Growth for the period 2014-2020;

At the proposal of the Director of the Urban Development Department;

The Minister of Construction issues this Circular on Urban Green Growth Indicators.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

2. Applicability:

This Circular stipulates urban green growth indicators and guides the preparation of urban green growth reports according to these indicators for central cities, cities of type I, II, III, IV, and V.

第二条 组织和实施奖励工作的支出水平，如政府第152/2025/NĐ-CP号决定关于分级授权和奖励领域的分权规定

Agencies, organizations, and individuals related to urban green growth activities.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Urban green growth is an urban area that achieves economic growth and development through urban policies and activities aimed at reducing adverse impacts on the environment and natural resources.

2. Urban green growth construction includes urban construction and planning activities; developing and implementing urban development programs; investing in urban development towards green growth cities.

3. Urban green growth indicators are criteria applied to assess annual or phased urban green growth development compared to the base year's urban development status, to propose, approve, and promote the implementation of urban green growth policies and activities.

4. Base year is the year 2015, selected for the first report prepared according to the guidelines set out in this Circular.

5. Base year urban green growth report is a report built applying all urban green growth indicators for the base year.

6. Annual urban green growth report is a report built applying some urban green growth indicators for the evaluation year.

7. Phased urban green growth report is a report prepared applying all urban green growth indicators for the corresponding phase of the local socio-economic development plan completed before the competent authority approves the next phase's socio-economic development plan.

8. Conventional development approach refers to urban development without applying green growth policies and activities.

Article 3. Urban green growth indicators

Urban green growth indicators consist of 24 indicators divided into 4 groups. The list and content of these indicators are detailed in Appendixes 1 and 2 issued together with this Circular:

1. Economic indicators group comprises 5 indicators aimed at assessing the effectiveness of economic growth regarding energy and natural resource use in urban construction and development investment.

2. Environmental indicators group comprises 10 indicators aimed at assessing urban environmental quality and landscape, the degree of application of energy-saving and efficient solutions, renewable energy use, environmental protection, and reduction of pollution, discharge, and greenhouse gas emissions in urban development.

3. Social indicators group comprises 4 indicators aimed at assessing the effectiveness of improving the quality of life and living conditions of urban residents.

4. Institutional indicators group comprises 5 indicators aimed at assessing urban management, guidance, and control work of urban authorities on urban green growth construction.

Article 4. Purpose and Principles for Preparing Reports on Green Urban Development

1. Purpose:

a) To propose priority activities for implementing green urban development;

b) To evaluate and review programs, plans, and investment projects using funds to serve the goal of green urban development;

c) To serve as a basis for proposing reviews and adjustments to specific indicators in urban planning and urban development programs;

d) To monitor and supervise programs and plans of cities implementing the national strategy on green growth, reducing greenhouse gas emissions intensity, increasing the proportion of renewable energy usage, and reducing natural resource consumption in cities.

2. Principles:

a) Ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness in collecting data for indicators and preparing reports on green urban development;

b) The collection of data for indicators and preparation of reports on green urban development must ensure economy and efficiency.

Article 5. Collection and Processing of Data for Indicators of Green Urban Development

1. Sources of data for indicators are collected based on reports provided by competent authorities as stipulated in Article 8 of this Circular.

2. Concepts, calculation methods, and guidelines for each indicator are defined in Appendix 2 of this Circular and uniformly applied across report preparations.

3. Data for calculating indicators are collected according to the reporting period specified for each indicator in Appendix 2 of this Circular. The reporting period runs from January 1 to December 31 of the year.

4. Data for calculating indicators for the base-year report on green urban development are calculated from January 1 to December 31 of the base year. The report applies 24 indicators specified in Appendices 1 and 2 of this Circular.

5. Data for calculating indicators for the annual report on green urban development are calculated from January 1 to December 31 of the evaluation year, applying 18 indicators excluding those with codes: 0201; 0206; 0301; 0302; 0304 and 0401 in Appendices 1 and 2 of this Circular.

6. Data for calculating indicators for the phase report on green urban development are calculated for the final year of the phase. The report applies 24 indicators specified in Appendices 1 and 2 of this Circular.

Article 6. Content of Reports on Green Urban Development

1. The base-year report on green urban development identifies the current status of urban development as a basis for comparison and assessment in subsequent reports, identifies stakeholders, and proposes issues that need priority implementation.

2. The annual report on green urban development compares and contrasts indicators of the evaluation year with the base year, focusing on analyzing changes in indicators, strengths to be continued, existing issues needing improvement, and proposing specific recommendations, effectively engaging identified stakeholders.

3. The phase report on green urban development comprehensively evaluates the results of green urban development during the reported phase, consolidates annual reports, reviews directives, orientations, urban planning, and development programs, and proposes recommendations for the next phase.

4. The outline of the reports is guided by Appendix 3 of this Circular.

Article 7. Prioritize activities for implementing green urban development

1. Review and adjust urban planning indicators, integrate urban development models suitable with the orientation of green urban development such as green cities, eco-economic cities, smart cities, low-carbon cities, and solutions in priority fields mentioned in Clauses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of this Article.

2. Develop green urban transportation, public transportation, and low-emission transportation forms, limit the use of fossil fuels.

3. Develop green buildings and environmentally friendly structures.

4. Use water resources efficiently and prevent wastage and loss.

5. Treat waste and emissions in a way that reduces discharges and emissions, conserves energy, and promotes reuse and recycling of waste.

6. Develop and apply green construction materials and technologies, use energy efficiently and effectively, encourage the use of clean energy.

7. Develop green and ecological urban areas.

8. Enhance resilience to climate change for cities.

9. Develop smart cities.

10. Train and develop human resources at all levels in management and expertise related to green urban development.

11. Enact mechanisms, policies, preferences, incentives to encourage implementation of priority fields mentioned in Clauses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of this Article.

Article 8. Organization of compiling reports on green urban development

1. For centrally-administered cities

a) The People's Committee of the centrally-administered city assigns the Construction Department to take the lead, regularly inspect, monitor, and urge implementation. The Construction Department formulates plans for compiling green urban development reports and implements these plans after approval by the People's Committee of the city; compiles green urban development indicators specified in Appendices 1 and 2 of this Circular, and issues the report;

c) The outline and content of the report shall comply with the provisions of Article 6 of this Circular;

a) The District People's Committee takes the lead, assigns a unit with functions in managing urban development to take the lead, regularly inspect, monitor, and urge implementation; implement the compilation of green urban development reports for Type V cities from 2020. The leading unit formulates plans for compiling green urban development reports for each city and implements these plans after approval by the District People's Committee, compiles green urban development indicators specified in Appendices 1 and 2 of this Circular, and submits the report for issuance by the District People's Committee;

b) The District People's Committee takes the lead, assigns specific relevant units and the People's Committees of subordinate cities under districts to provide and be responsible for timely submission of relevant data and information to the leading agency;

c) The outline and content of the report shall comply with the provisions of Article 6 of this Circular;

d) The District People's Committee is responsible for submitting the green urban development report to the Provincial People's Committee; the Planning and Investment Department, the Construction Department as a basis for implementing activities stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 4 and send it to the Ministry of Construction for monitoring and consolidation before March 31 each year.

Article 9. Funding for organization, implementation, and preparation of reports on green urban development

1. The funding for data collection, calculation, analysis, and preparation of baseline green urban development reports, annual green urban development reports, and phased green urban development reports shall be balanced and allocated from local government budgets and other lawful sources as prescribed by law.

2. The preparation, management, utilization, and settlement of funding for implementation shall be carried out in accordance with relevant laws. The budget for expenses shall be determined and approved based on the content and volume of work to be performed and the locality's payment capacity.

Article 10. Implementation Organization

4. Cities shall proactively propose and cooperate with domestic and international organizations, units, and agencies to support and finance the assessment of current conditions, report preparation, monitoring, and supervision of the implementation of green urban development indicators.

6. The Ministry of Construction shall take the lead in organizing the implementation, guidance, supervision, and evaluation of the situation regarding the preparation of green urban development reports to promote the national green growth strategy in cities.

Article 11. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular shall take effect from February 20, 2018.

2. In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, agencies, organizations, and individuals are requested to submit their opinions to the Ministry of Construction for study and resolution.