Directive No. 36/1998/CT-TW On Strengthening Environmental Protection Work During the Industrialization and Modernization Period of the Country

DIRECTIVE

Regarding the strengthening of environmental protection work during the period of industrialization and modernization of the country

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Environmental protection is a vital issue for the country and humanity; it is a deeply social task, closely linked to the struggle against poverty in each country, and the struggle for peace and social progress worldwide.

The Party and State have had policies and measures to address environmental issues. Vietnam's environmental protection activities have achieved initial results, with many exemplary individuals and deeds in this field.

However, environmental protection in our country has yet to meet the requirements of economic and social development in the new phase. Generally, the environment continues to be polluted and degraded, with some areas being severe. The enforcement of environmental laws is not strict enough. Public awareness of protecting and maintaining public environments has not become a habit in daily life for the majority of citizens.

Forests continue to be severely destroyed, minerals are exploited indiscriminately. Land is eroded and degraded; biodiversity on land and under the sea is declining. Surface water and groundwater are increasingly polluted and depleted, coastal waters are beginning to be polluted. Many cities and industrial zones are polluted by wastewater, exhaust gases, solid waste... Sanitation conditions in rural areas are extremely poor, safety standards for labor and food are violated. Environmental incidents are increasing.

The increase in population, uncontrolled migration, destructive exploitation of biological resources on land and in water, striving to achieve certain important environmental targets set out in Resolution VIII for the year 2000 such as: green coverage of 40% of forest area, ensuring that 80% of the population has access to clean water, thoroughly treating pollution sources... are serious challenges facing our country now.

Global environmental issues, such as climate change, ozone layer depletion, rising sea levels, transboundary pollution, degradation of the quality of major rivers and shared forests along borders, acid rain, El Niño phenomenon... are increasingly negatively affecting our country's environment.

The above situation is due to both objective and subjective reasons, but subjective reasons are still the main cause:

- Party committees and authorities at all levels have not fully recognized the importance of environmental protection in the process of economic and social development, have not timely planned and implemented measures to protect the environment, have not adequately led and directed environmental protection work.

- The Government, ministries, sectors, and localities have been slow and ineffective in organizing the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection and the "National Plan on Environment and Sustainable Development for the 1991-2000 period"; legal regulations on environmental protection are lacking and overlapping, and are not synchronized; investment in the environment remains low.

- Propaganda, education to raise awareness about environmental protection among the entire Party, people, and military has not been given adequate attention, and the role of mass organizations, political and social organizations, mass associations, and mass movements for environmental protection has not been fully utilized.

- State management of the environment at both central and local levels has not met the requirements.

II

To contribute to ensuring the success of the country's industrialization and modernization, the Political Bureau requires all levels and sectors to renew their understanding, strengthen leadership and direction of environmental protection work, grasp and implement the following goals, viewpoints, and solutions:

A - GOALS:

Prevent environmental pollution, restore and improve the environment of areas and regions that have deteriorated, conserve biodiversity, gradually improve the quality of the environment in industrial zones, cities, and rural areas, contribute to sustainable economic and social development, enhance the quality of life for the people, and successfully carry out the country's industrialization and modernization. Strive to achieve the environmental protection goals set by the Eighth National Congress of the Party by the year 2000.

B - BASIC VIEWPOINTS:

- Environmental protection is the responsibility of the entire Party, people, and military.

- Environmental protection is an essential component that cannot be separated from the policy, guidelines, and plans for economic and social development at all levels and sectors, serving as a crucial foundation for sustainable development and the successful implementation of the country's industrialization and modernization.

- Prevention and control of pollution should be the primary principle combined with pollution treatment, environmental improvement, and natural conservation.

- Combine internal capacity enhancement with strengthened international cooperation in environmental protection and sustainable development.

C - TO ACHIEVE THE ABOVE GOALS, IT IS NECESSARY TO ORGANIZE AND IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING SOLUTIONS:

1 - Continuously educate, promote, build habits, lifestyles, and mass movements for environmental protection.

Incorporate environmental protection contents into the educational programs of all levels in the national education system.

Create conditions and encourage the public to regularly receive information about the environment as a basic measure to protect the environment.

Mobilize and guide the people to practice clean and hygienic lifestyles, maintain public hygiene.

Continue to promote mass movements for environmental protection such as the Green-Clean-Beautiful movement, Garden-Aquaculture-Farm (GAF), Garden-Aquaculture-Farm-Forest (GAFF), Clean Water and Sanitation Week, civilized family, good sanitation...

2 - Complete the legal framework for environmental protection, issue policies on economic development that are linked to environmental protection, strictly enforce the Law on Environmental Protection.

Review and promulgate a consistent set of sub-laws to ensure the effectiveness of the law.

Issue tax and credit policies to encourage the application of clean technologies.

Institutionalize the contribution of costs for environmental protection.

Institutionalize the coordination in addressing economic development issues with environmental protection: economic and social development plans must include environmental protection targets and measures. Economic efficiency calculations and comparisons of options must take into account environmental protection costs.

3- Proactively prevent and control pollution and environmental incidents, and address environmental degradation.

Strictly implement the provisions of the Environmental Protection Law regarding environmental impact assessments in the approval process for planning and investment projects. If the environmental impact assessment report is not accepted, such plans and projects shall not be implemented.

For existing production and business establishments, based on the results of environmental impact assessments, relevant ministries, sectors, provinces, and cities shall classify these establishments according to their pollution levels and develop appropriate handling plans: establishments causing excessive pollution must be given a timeframe to meet environmental standards, while those causing severe pollution must be resolutely shut down or relocated.

Apply clean technologies that produce minimal waste, consume less raw materials and energy.

Urban areas and industrial zones must promptly develop and effectively implement waste management plans, prioritizing the treatment of hazardous waste and medical waste.

The Government urgently approve the national plan for oil spill response at sea and the research plan to mitigate the effects of wartime chemical agents on the environment and people.

4- Rationally exploit and use natural resources, protect biodiversity, and conserve nature.

Implement necessary economic and legal measures to rapidly increase forest coverage, strictly enforce the closure of natural forests, and protect forests while addressing resettlement, employment, and food supply issues for people living near forests; expand the area of wildlife conservation zones and national parks to protect biodiversity.

Promptly end unregulated mineral extraction that wastes resources, destroys forests, degrades land, and pollutes the environment.

Immediately cease the use of destructive methods (such as electricity, electric shock, explosives, fire...) for fishing and marine resource exploitation.

Strengthen comprehensive water resource management along river basins, and urgently study solutions to address future water shortages.

5- Enhance and diversify investments in environmental protection activities.

Develop policies and mechanisms to mobilize all available resources from various industries, economic sectors, and the public to protect the environment.

Starting from the state plan for 1999, the Government, relevant sectors, and localities need to allocate budget items for environmental protection to implement this plan.

The Government stipulates the level of investment in environmental protection for state-owned enterprises.

Encourage all organizations and individuals, both domestic and foreign, to invest in Vietnam's environmental protection.

6- Strengthen state management of environmental protection from central to local levels.

Upgrade the central state management agency for environmental protection, providing necessary organizational, human, and technical infrastructure to enable it to effectively perform its environmental management functions, closely integrating with advisory roles in sustainable development policies, rational use of natural resources, especially forests, water resources, minerals, and aquatic resources.

Enhance local state management capacity for environmental protection.

7- Promote scientific research and technological development, and train personnel specializing in environmental protection.

Establish a nationwide environmental monitoring network to assess and forecast environmental changes.

Form a system of scientific research and technological institutions focused on environmental issues.

Organize a comprehensive training system for environmental personnel at various levels and specialties to meet the requirements of environmental protection work.

Emphasize the formation and development of an environmental technology industry suitable for our country's conditions.

8- Expand international cooperation in environmental protection.

Expand regional and international cooperation in environmental protection.

Participate in targeted cooperation programs to address common environmental protection tasks with related countries (sharing borders, seas, airspace, rivers...).

III

In 1998, Party committees and governments at all levels from central to grassroots should launch extensive propaganda campaigns throughout the Party, the people, and the military to thoroughly understand and implement this directive, carrying out the environmental protection tasks outlined in the directive.

The Party Central Committee's Political Bureau directs the drafting of the national strategy for environmental protection, improving the state management machinery for environmental protection at central and local levels, and increasing financial investment in environmental protection work.

Party committees and governments at all levels need to directly lead and guide the integration of economic and social development plans with environmental protection work, mobilize the masses widely and continuously to participate in environmental protection, maintain public hygiene, build clean, beautiful, and civilized living environments.

Each cadre and party member must continuously enhance their understanding of environmental protection, set an example, actively participate in all environmental protection activities, and proactively lead the masses in environmental protection efforts.

The Central Propaganda Department and the Party Central Committee's Political Bureau of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment assist the Politburo in overseeing, inspecting, and urging the implementation of this directive, regularly reporting on the situation and proposing guidance opinions.