Decree No. 36/2017/ND-CP on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

DECREE

PROVISIONS ON THE FUNCTIONS, TASKS, POWERS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated June 19, 2015;

Pursuant to Decree No. 123/2016/ND-CP dated September 1, 2016 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

At the proposal of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment;

The Government promulgates this Decree stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Article 1. Position and Functions

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is an agency of the Government, performing the function of state management in the following areas: Land; water resources; mineral resources and geology; environment; meteorology and hydrology; climate change; surveying and mapping; comprehensive management of natural resources and protection of the marine and island environment; remote sensing; state management of public services within the scope of the Ministry's jurisdiction.

b) Draft five-year and annual socio-economic development plans for the province; major economic and social balances for the province; draft five-year and annual plans, programs, projects, measures to organize and implement tasks related to socio-economic development, finance-budget, planning-investment, and other tasks within the scope of state management of the Department of Finance as prescribed by law;

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment performs the tasks and powers prescribed in Decree No. 123/2016/ND-CP dated September 1, 2016 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries and ministerial-level agencies, and the specific tasks and powers as follows:

1. Submit to the Government draft laws, draft resolutions of the National Assembly; draft ordinances, draft resolutions of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly; draft decrees of the Government according to the annual legislative program and plan approved by the Ministry and other resolutions, mechanisms, policies, projects, programs, regulatory legal documents within the scope of the Ministry’s state management as assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister.

2. Submit to the Government, the Prime Minister for approval and organize the implementation of strategies, plans, programs for long-term, medium-term, and annual development, and important national programs, projects, and works in the sectors and fields under the Ministry's management.

3. Submit to the Prime Minister draft decisions, directives, and other documents within the Prime Minister's authority to issue.

4. Approve strategies, plans, programs for development in the sectors and fields under the Ministry's state management, investment projects according to the delegation and authorization of the Government and the Prime Minister; inspect and guide the implementation after approval.

5. Issue circulars, decisions, directives, and other documents on state management in the sectors and fields under the Ministry's state management; direct, guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of regulatory legal documents within the scope of the Ministry’s state management; inform, propagate, popularize, and educate the law on natural resources and the environment; establish national standards, issue national technical regulations, economic-technical norms in the sectors and fields under the Ministry's state management.

6\. Regarding land:

a) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of policies, laws, strategies, plans, programs, projects, and proposals on land management and use after being decided and approved by the competent authority;

b) Establish, adjust national land use plans and regional plans, and manage them after being approved by the National Assembly; review provincial people's committee land use plans; review land use plans and purposes for defense, security, conversion of paddy fields, protective forests, special-use forests according to regulations; provide written comments on land use contents in sectoral and field-specific plans and projects that involve land use, and land-related contents for investment projects according to the law;

c) Guide the allocation of land funds for real estate market development in land use plans and programs;

d) Guide, inspect land investigation, surveying, mapping of cadastral maps, current land use maps, and land use planning maps; the establishment and adjustment of land use plans; land allocation, land leasing, land recovery, land use purpose conversion; land use right registration, house ownership rights, and other property rights attached to land; establishment and management of cadastral files, construction of land database; issuance of land use right certificates, house ownership certificates, and other property rights attached to land; implementation of land users' rights and obligations according to the law;

đ) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to build principles and methods for determining land prices to submit to the Government for promulgation or to submit to the competent authority for promulgation; guide the construction and adjustment of land price lists and specific land valuation according to the law on land; prepare land price maps; build, compile, and provide data and information on land price frameworks, land price lists, and specific land prices;

e) Guide, inspect land recovery, fund development, and management of recovered land funds; land use rights auction and land management in tender projects involving land use according to the law;

g) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of laws on compensation, support, and resettlement when the State recovers land; guide the determination of land users eligible for compensation, support, or non-compensation, non-support; review the framework policy on compensation, support, and resettlement when the State recovers land for investment projects decided on investment orientation by the National Assembly, approved by the Prime Minister for investment orientation that must relocate entire communities, affecting the entire livelihood, economy, society, cultural traditions of the community, land recovery projects related to many central cities and provinces;

h) Issue and manage the use of land use right certificate blanks, house ownership certificates, and other property rights attached to land;

i) Prepare periodic or ad hoc land statistics and inventory plans for approval by the competent authority and organize implementation after approval; guide, inspect, and implement land statistics and inventory within their jurisdiction;

k) Prepare overall plans for land surveys, evaluations, and land use efficiency assessments for approval by the competent authority and organize implementation after approval;

l) Build and uniformly manage the land information system nationwide; manage the construction, updating, and exploitation of the national land database;

m) Build a monitoring and evaluation system for land management and use; manage and operate the central monitoring and evaluation system for land management and use; guide, inspect local land management and use monitoring and evaluation systems;

n) Direct and guide the resolution of land disputes according to the law.

o) Manage and guide the operation of public services in the field of land; issue certificates of practice in the field of land in accordance with the provisions of the law.

7. Regarding water resources:

a) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of policies, laws, strategies, plans, programs, projects, and proposals on preventing, combating water pollution, degradation, depletion, restoring polluted and depleted water sources, responding to and mitigating water pollution incidents to ensure the comprehensive, multi-objective, economical, and efficient exploitation and utilization of water resources in river basins under the Ministry's jurisdiction after being approved by competent authorities.

b) Establish the overall basic investigation plan for water resources, the national water resources plan; organize the establishment, approval of river basin water resource plans across provinces, inter-provincial water sources, and implement them after approval; provide written comments on provincial and centrally-administered city water resource plans; approve contents related to the exploitation, utilization, protection of water resources, and prevention and mitigation of adverse effects caused by water in water supply, inland waterway transportation, hydropower, and other plans involving water resource exploitation and utilization activities established by ministries and equivalent agencies and related activities according to their authority; review projects transferring water from river basins.

c) Categorize inter-provincial water sources based on pollution and depletion levels; establish plans to regulate and distribute water resources to restore polluted, degraded, and depleted inter-provincial water sources after approval by competent authorities; guide and inspect the implementation of water resource regulation and distribution plans, measures to prevent and combat water source degradation and depletion in construction, production, business, and service activities in accordance with the law.

d) Establish a list of inter-provincial river basins; establish and promulgate lists of intra-provincial river basins, inter-provincial water sources, and inter-national water sources.

đ) Define, announce restricted areas for groundwater extraction, areas requiring artificial groundwater replenishment, minimum flow rates, and groundwater extraction thresholds in accordance with the law; guide the implementation of regulations on establishing and managing water source protection zones in accordance with the law; determine and announce sanitary protection zones for water intake areas.

e) Organize the development of models for water-saving and efficient use; promote and disseminate water-saving models, technologies, and equipment; guide the implementation of preferential regulations for water-saving and efficient use activities.

g) Establish and adjust inter-reservoir operation procedures on river basins according to the list of reservoirs required to have such procedures and guide their implementation after promulgation; guide the implementation of regulations on monitoring and supervising water resource exploitation and utilization activities and wastewater discharge into water sources on river basins; review reservoir construction projects to ensure compliance with requirements for water resource protection, comprehensive and multi-objective exploitation and utilization, and consistency with water resource planning.

h) Guide, inspect, and implement measures to maintain minimum flows in rivers, ensuring comprehensive and efficient exploitation and utilization of water resources in river basins for reservoirs and the protection of river beds and banks, ensuring the flow of water; compliance with technical standards and regulations on safety, prevention, and control of subsidence and collapse during water exploration, exploitation, and utilization in accordance with the law; direct the organization of measures to prevent subsidence and collapse (excluding water conservancy, dike, and disaster prevention works) during water exploration, exploitation, and utilization in accordance with the law.

i) Implement basic investigations of national water resources; compile results of basic investigations, exploitation, utilization, and protection of water resources carried out by ministries, sectors, and localities; inventory, forecast, and assess water resources; build, manage, and operate monitoring and supervision systems for water resources exploitation and utilization and wastewater discharge into water sources in inter-provincial river basins, inter-provincial, and inter-national water sources; build, manage, and operate national water resources information and database systems; manage, store, publish, and provide information and data on water resources, exploitation and utilization of water resources, water scarcity conditions, and appropriate water regulation, allocation, and conservation measures in river basins.

k) Guide, inspect, and organize the issuance, extension, adjustment, suspension, revocation, and reissuance of permits for water resource exploration, exploitation, utilization, wastewater discharge into water sources, and groundwater drilling operations; approve the transfer of water resource exploitation rights in accordance with the law.

l) Resolve disputes arising from water resource exploitation and utilization, wastewater discharge into water sources for cases within the permit issuance authority's jurisdiction and other water resource disputes between provinces and centrally-administered cities.

Serve as the national focal point for exchanging information related to inter-national water sources and participate in international organizations and forums on river basins; guide and inspect the implementation of international conventions, treaties, and agreements on water resources to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.

n) Monitoring, supervising, and compiling the situation of transboundary water resources, promptly reporting and proposing solutions to the Government and Prime Minister to ensure Vietnam's rights and interests;

Act as the Standing Office of the Mekong River Commission of Vietnam, the National Water Resources Council, and Basin Committees.

8. On geology and minerals:

Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of policies, laws, strategies, plans, programs, projects, and proposals on geology and mineral resources, hydrogeology, engineering geology, geological disasters, geological heritage, and geological parks after approval by competent authorities.

b) Establish and implement the mineral strategy; plan basic geological surveys on minerals throughout the country; provide written comments on exploration, exploitation, processing, and utilization plans for various types of minerals developed by ministries, sectors, and localities.

c) Define and announce areas with scattered and small-scale minerals, areas with harmful minerals; define and submit to competent authorities for approval national mineral reserve areas, areas not subject to bidding for mining rights; compile the definition of areas not subject to bidding for mining rights, prohibited areas, and temporarily prohibited areas for mining activities under the jurisdiction of localities; assess and submit to competent authorities for approval prohibited areas and temporarily prohibited areas for mining activities managed by provincial People's Committees.

d) Decide on the exploitation or non-exploitation of minerals in areas with national key projects within the investment decision-making authority of the National Assembly or important projects within the decision-making authority of the Government or the Prime Minister, which have been investigated and assessed for minerals or discovered to have minerals without prior investigation or assessment.

đ) Study and conduct basic geological surveys on minerals and engineering geology; stipulate the establishment and assessment of mineral exploration projects, basic geological survey reports, exploration and exploitation reports; build and guide the construction of geological heritage projects, geological conservation, geological park networks, and geological disasters; guide the preparation, assessment, and recognition of national geological heritage and geological park titles.

e) Assess mineral exploration project proposals, tasks, and basic geological survey projects on minerals, mineral exploration project proposals according to the provisions of the law; guide and organize the implementation of the assessment of mineral exploration results and upgraded reserves; manage reserves and confirm mobilized reserves for mineral exploitation projects according to the provisions of the law; direct the resolution of matters related to the evaluation of national mineral reserves.

g) Implement registration for basic geological surveys on minerals; compile results of basic geological surveys on minerals, mineral activity situations; statistics and inventory of mineral reserves; build a national database on geology and minerals; publish basic geological survey on mineral materials and information; manage geological and mineral samples and information.

h) Conduct auctions for mining rights within its jurisdiction; determine the fees for granting mining rights within the licensing authority of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment according to the provisions of the law on minerals.

i) Issue, extend, revoke, and approve the return of Mineral Exploration Licenses, Mineral Exploitation Licenses; permit the transfer of mineral exploration rights and mineral exploitation rights; approve the partial return of exploration and exploitation area areas; approve mine closure plans and decide on mine closures according to the provisions of the law.

k) Inspect compliance with the contents of Mineral Exploration Licenses and Mineral Exploitation Licenses issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; monitor mineral activities and basic geological surveys on minerals nationwide; monitor compliance with sustainable development policies for basic geological surveys on minerals and mineral activities, local interests, and people living near exploited mineral areas; inspect and supervise during the implementation of mineral exploration projects approved by the Minister; inspect the calculation of mining right fees and mineral exploitation right auctions in localities.

l) Serve as the national representative to participate in the East and Southeast Asia Regional Geoscience Commission (CCOP); the National Committee of Vietnam for the International Geoscience Program (IGCP); serve as the national coordinator to support the coordination and implementation of activities related to the development and management of the Global Geoparks Network of UNESCO.

9. On the environment:

a) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of policies, laws, strategies, plans, programs, projects, inter-sectoral, inter-provincial, inter-regional, and national-level policies on environmental protection, environmental security, and transboundary environmental issues after being decided and approved by competent authorities.

b) Develop and submit to competent authorities for issuance national environmental standards, environmental statistical index systems according to the provisions of the law.

c) Guide and inspect the establishment and assessment of environmental protection plans; organize the establishment, assessment, and national-level environmental protection planning according to the provisions of the law.

d) Guide and inspect the assessment of strategic environmental impact assessments, assessment and approval of environmental impact assessment reports, confirmation of environmental protection plans; guide technical implementation of strategic environmental impact assessments and specialized environmental impact assessment report preparation; organize the implementation according to authority of the assessment of strategic environmental impact assessment reports, assessment and approval of environmental protection projects, environmental impact assessment reports, issue certificates of completion of environmental protection works, and confirmation of compliance with environmental protection requirements for solid waste treatment facilities and general industrial solid waste treatment facilities according to the provisions of the law.

đ) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of work to control pollution sources from production, business, service activities including economic zones, industrial zones, export processing zones, high-tech zones, industrial clusters, craft villages in accordance with the provisions of the law; guide environmental protection for chemicals, plant protection products, veterinary drugs, imported waste materials for production raw materials, dismantling of used ships; establish a list of biological products used in preventing, reducing, and treating pollution, a list of biological products causing environmental pollution that are prohibited from importation, a list of waste materials permitted for importation; prevent and respond to environmental incidents in accordance with the provisions of the law;

e) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation within their authority of work to establish lists, thoroughly handle, confirm the completion of thorough handling of facilities causing serious environmental pollution, provide targeted support from the budget for public welfare facilities in accordance with the provisions of the law;

g) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of waste management in accordance with the provisions of the law; review solid waste planning prepared by the Ministry of Construction; guide technical procedures in sorting, storing, collecting, transferring, transporting, pre-processing, reusing, recycling, co-processing, treating, and recovering energy from general solid waste, hazardous solid waste; recover and treat discarded products;

h) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of water quality, soil, air, river basin, island, urban, rural, residential, public area environmental management in accordance with the provisions of the law;

i) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation within their authority of investigations, assessments, classifications, remediation, and restoration of polluted areas, remediation and restoration of the environment during mineral exploitation; review and approve plans for remediation and restoration of the environment during mineral exploitation activities in accordance with the provisions of the law;

k) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of environmental monitoring activities nationwide in accordance with the provisions of the law; implement the national environmental monitoring program; build and manage the national environmental monitoring system; manage the quality, calibration, testing of environmental monitoring equipment in accordance with the provisions of the law; manage monitoring data, build a national database on environmental monitoring; publish national environmental monitoring results; guide professional operations and provide technical support for managing environmental monitoring data;

l) Guide, inspect the establishment and publication of environmental status reports; organize the establishment and publication of environmental status reports, specialized national environmental reports, and the provision and dissemination of environmental information and data in accordance with the provisions of the law;

m) Guide, organize the implementation of reviews, inspections, evaluations of construction projects, equipment, models, and technologies for environmental pollution treatment, waste treatment; guide and inspect environmental appraisal work in accordance with the provisions of the law; research, apply, and deploy scientific and technological progress in the field of environmental protection, develop environmental technology; build and organize the implementation of programs and experimental models on sustainable and environmentally friendly production and consumption;

n) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of registration, confirmation, issuance, reissuance, adjustment, and revocation of various environmental permits, certificates, and professional certificates in accordance with the provisions of the law;

o) Guide ministries, sectors, localities on professional matters and key tasks related to environmental protection; compile and balance annual environmental public expenditure needs of ministries, sectors, and localities; coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance in the process of establishing economic and financial mechanisms for environmental protection, compile state budget estimates, annual central budget allocation plans for three years and five years in the environmental sector; monitor and supervise the implementation of the budget in the environmental sector at ministries, sectors, and localities;

p) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of work to determine environmental damage, responsibility for compensating environmental damage, environmental remediation and recovery guarantees, environmental insurance in accordance with the provisions of the law; organize the management of the Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund; guide the organization and operation of environmental protection funds in sectors, fields, and localities; serve as the national focal point of the Global Environment Facility;

q) Take the lead in organizing negotiations, signing, implementing international agreements, and participating in international organizations on the environment; mobilize international resources; organize coordination and implementation of international cooperation projects and tasks on the environment according to the division of labor by the Government;

r) Take the lead and coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities to organize the implementation of activities to study and mitigate the consequences of chemical toxins used by the United States during the war in Vietnam; handle, remediate, and restore other residual contaminated areas in accordance with the provisions of the law;

10. On nature conservation and biodiversity:

a) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of policies, laws, strategies, plans, programs, projects, inter-ministerial, inter-provincial, inter-regional, national, and international cross-border issues on biodiversity after being decided and approved by competent authorities;

b) Build and submit to competent authorities for promulgation of national targets on biodiversity in accordance with the provisions of the law;

c) Guide basic investigation, inventory, provision, exchange, and management of biodiversity information;

d) Establish and organize the implementation of the overall conservation plan for biodiversity nationwide; guide and inspect the work of establishing and reviewing provincial biodiversity conservation plans; review the compatibility between ministry-level and equivalent agency biodiversity conservation plans and the overall national biodiversity conservation plan; guide the integration of biodiversity into development strategies, economic and social sectors, territories.

d) Organize an inter-ministerial appraisal board for the establishment project of a nature reserve with an area spanning two or more centrally governed provinces or cities; take the lead and coordinate with provincial or centrally governed city People's Committees to establish projects and manage such national-level nature reserves and world natural heritage sites following the division of labor assigned by the Government; direct and guide the establishment and management of provincial-level biodiversity corridors and nature reserves in accordance with the provisions of the law;

e) Guide and inspect the management of invasive alien species, facilities for biodiversity conservation, and the conservation of species listed in the priority protection catalog excluding plant and animal breeds, as provided by law;

g) Guide and inspect the long-term storage of genetic resources and genetic samples of prioritized protected species; guide the management and supervision of activities related to accessing genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, and the sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources managed by the State and traditional knowledge about genetic resources; build and manage a unified national database on genetic resources, genetically modified organisms, and genetic samples of genetically modified organisms related to biodiversity; compile a list of genetically modified organisms certified as safe;

h) Draft and submit to competent authorities for issuance, or issue within their authority, lists and programs for the conservation of critically endangered, rare, and precious species prioritized for protection excluding plant and animal breeds; lists of invasive alien species; organize the compilation of the Red Book of Vietnam; guide the conservation of biodiversity in areas that have not yet met the conditions for establishing a nature reserve; guide the assessment of the invasive potential of alien species on the environment and biodiversity;

i) Guide, develop, and implement monitoring, statistical, and data management programs on biodiversity; direct the development and unified management of monitoring data and databases on biodiversity; take the lead in compiling and publishing the national report on biodiversity; guide ministries, sectors, and localities in investigating and compiling reports on biodiversity;

k) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of registration, recognition, issuance, and revocation of various permits and certificates related to biodiversity within their authority as prescribed by law;

l) Guide and inspect the payment for environmental services related to biodiversity;

m) Serve as the national focal point for implementing international agreements on nature conservation and biodiversity according to the division of labor assigned by the Government; direct and guide the preparation of nomination files and management of internationally important wetlands under the Ramsar Convention, ASEAN Heritage Parks, and World Biosphere Reserves;

n) Take the lead in organizing negotiations, signing, and implementing international agreements and participating in international organizations on nature conservation and biodiversity; mobilize international resources, coordinate, and implement international cooperation projects, tasks, and programs on nature conservation and biodiversity according to the division of labor assigned by the Government;

11. Regarding meteorology and hydrology:

a) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of policies, laws, strategies, plans, programs, projects, and tasks on meteorology and hydrology after they have been decided and approved by competent authorities;

Manage and organize the implementation of meteorological and hydrological observation, investigation, and survey activities; monitor the operation of mandatory meteorological and hydrological stations and provide meteorological and hydrological information and data; build, manage, and operate the national network of meteorological and hydrological stations, lightning location systems;

Organize the protection of technical corridors of meteorological and hydrological works within the national network of meteorological and hydrological stations;

Manage and organize the implementation of meteorological and hydrological forecasting and warning activities; transmit meteorological and hydrological forecasting and warning information; build, manage, and operate the national system for meteorological and hydrological forecasting and warning; issue official warnings of natural disasters and disaster risk levels;

Manage and organize the implementation of activities related to the storage, exploitation, and use of meteorological and hydrological information and data; build and manage the national meteorological and hydrological database;

Review the contents related to meteorology and hydrology in the planning and design of key national construction projects and in the planning and design of construction projects as stipulated by law;

Issue, extend, suspend, or revoke licenses for meteorological and hydrological forecasting and warning activities in accordance with the law;

h) Manage the quality of meteorological and hydrological measurement instruments according to the provisions of the law;

Manage, guide, and organize the implementation of activities serving meteorology and hydrology in accordance with the law;

Approve and supervise the implementation of weather modification plans within their authority;

Serve as the national focal point for participation in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Typhoon Committee, ASEAN Sub-Committee on Physical Geography (ASCMG); serve as the focal point for participation in international forums and the implementation of international agreements on meteorology and hydrology according to the division of labor assigned by the Government;

12. On Surveying, Mapping, and Geographic Information:

Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of policies, laws, strategies, plans, key national projects on basic surveying and mapping, specialized surveying and mapping after they have been decided and approved by competent authorities;

Build, update, manage, and exploit geographic information infrastructure, national reference systems, national original surveying data systems, national basic surveying point systems, national satellite positioning station systems, aerial photography systems, national topographic map systems, national seabed topographic map systems, national geographic information foundation databases; promulgate lists of place names displayed on maps;

Publish and provide surveying, mapping, and geographic information data in accordance with the law;

Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of calibration and testing of surveying and mapping equipment according to national standards;

đ) Review the necessity, scope, technical solutions of surveying and mapping content in programs, projects, tasks using central budget funds, except for projects and tasks in the field of national defense and security as prescribed by law;

e) Organize the issuance, supplementation, replacement, extension, reissuance, revocation of surveying and mapping activity licenses; inspect the implementation of surveying and mapping activities by organizations and individuals holding such licenses; inspect the publication and distribution of maps; suspend the distribution and direct the recall of map publications that violate the law; issue, revoke, annul Free Circulation Certificates (CFS) for products and goods imported and exported related to surveying and mapping;

g) Establish, update, publish, and distribute map products in accordance with the provisions of the law;

h) Organize surveying, establish, update administrative boundary maps to serve the demarcation, division, merger, adjustment of administrative boundaries as prescribed by law; review the representation of administrative boundary lines on various types of maps before publication;

i) Organize surveying, establish maps and documentation to serve negotiations, planning, demarcation, marking, and management of national land borders on land, at sea, in exclusive economic zones and continental shelves; build a national border database; print and distribute various types of maps and documents related to national land borders, maritime areas, islands, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelves;

k) Serve as the national focal agency, coordinate the implementation of international cooperation and exchanges in the fields of surveying, mapping, and geographic information; participate in international organizations and forums on surveying, mapping, and geographic information as assigned by the Government;

13. On comprehensive management of natural resources and environmental protection of the sea and islands:

a) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of strategies for sustainable exploitation and use of marine resources and environmental protection; policies and laws on comprehensive management of marine resources after being decided and approved by competent authorities;

b) Draft, submit to competent authorities for approval, adjustment, and guide the implementation of national marine use plans, overall plans for sustainable exploitation and use of coastal resources, and organize implementation, inspection, and supervision after approval by state authorities; draft, submit to the Prime Minister for approval key programs for basic surveys of marine resources and environment, comprehensive management programs for coastal areas with provincial scope, lists of classified islands, and organize implementation after approval according to the law;

c) Take the lead, coordinate with ministries, sectors, and provincial people's committees with coastlines to build, submit for approval by competent authorities, and organize implementation of programs, plans, projects, tasks for comprehensive management of marine and island resources according to the law;

d) Participate in reviewing marine conservation area establishment plans; participate in reviewing projects and works exploiting and using marine resources; provide opinions on plans and projects within the approval authority of relevant ministries, sectors, and localities concerning the use of reclaimed land according to the law;

đ) Monitor and compile the implementation of basic surveys about seas and islands nationwide; provide opinions on programs, plans, projects, and surveys about seas and islands by ministries, sectors, and localities according to the law; take the lead in building and organizing implementation of key basic survey programs, projects, and tasks on marine resources and environment according to the government's assignment;

e) Investigate, statistically classify, manage island resources; manage island resource records; detail regulations on island resource records, guide the establishment and management of island resource records;

g) Allocate, extend, revoke, permit partial or full return, amend, supplement decisions on allocating sea areas according to authority; resolve recommendations and difficulties regarding the use of allocated sea areas according to the law; manage and guide the allocation of sea areas for marine resource exploitation and use;

h) Issue, reissue, extend, amend, supplement, suspend, revoke scientific research permits for foreign organizations and individuals conducting research in Vietnam's territorial waters according to the law; participate in reviewing and monitoring, compiling the implementation of marine and ocean science research programs and projects by ministries, sectors, and localities according to the law;

i) Issue, reissue, extend, amend, supplement, permit partial or full return, revoke permits for marine disposal according to authority; supervise disposal activities and handle violations according to the law;

k) Guide and direct provincial people's committees to establish and protect coastal protection zones;

l) Compile and evaluate socio-economic potential related to the sea of Vietnam; statistically classify and evaluate the potential of Vietnam's maritime and island regions; take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to assess resource changes; organize analysis, evaluation, and forecasting of domestic and international developments related to resource management, exploitation, use, scientific research, and international cooperation on seas and islands of Vietnam;

m) Build investment plans for the development, use, and management of a comprehensive monitoring and surveillance system for marine and island resources and environments; specialized facilities and means for marine environmental warning, research, and surveys within the management scope according to the law; take the lead in building and managing a national system of information and databases on marine and island resources and environments;

n) To organize monitoring of marine resources and environment; to investigate, statistically analyze, classify, and assess discharges from activities at sea and on islands within its authority; to investigate and assess the environmental carrying capacity of marine areas and islands in high-risk pollution zones; to announce marine and island areas that can no longer accept waste; to assess the state of marine and island environmental pollution; to delineate pollution risk zones for marine and island environments, prepare maps of these zones; to implement preventive measures, detect, handle, and mitigate pollution and degradation of marine and island environments; to improve and restore polluted and degraded marine and island environments.

o) To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to organize the implementation of inspections and supervision of activities related to the exploitation, utilization of marine resources, and environmental protection in coastal and island regions; to deploy monitoring activities, assess risks, and address oil spills and toxic chemical incidents at sea.

p) To guide and organize publicity about the seas and islands in accordance with the law.

14. On climate change:

a) To guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of policies, laws, strategies, plans, programs, projects, and proposals on climate change after being decided or approved by competent authorities.

b) To propose and institutionalize international mechanisms, policies, and initiatives on climate change for economic and social development, ensuring national defense and security, in line with conditions and national interests; to propose adjustments, amendments, and supplements to domestic mechanisms, policies, and technological standards related to climate change in response to international situations.

c) To organize national climate assessments; to develop and update climate change scenarios, submit them to competent authorities for approval, and organize their implementation; to guide and supervise the assessment of climate change impacts and the development of adaptation solutions, integrating climate change monitoring results into strategies, plans, and programs.

d) To establish and implement a system for tracking, verifying, and reporting (MRV) on greenhouse gas emission reduction activities, climate change adaptation activities, and loss and damage-related contents under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

đ) To organize the implementation, guidance, and evaluation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs); to organize updates to NDCs as required by the Paris Agreement on Climate Change; to organize the preparation of national reports on climate change and conduct regular greenhouse gas inventories; to propose policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with Vietnam's socio-economic development stages.

To guide and organize the management of carbon credit trading activities in accordance with the law and international treaties to which Vietnam is a party, issue certificates of confirmation for investment projects under the Clean Development Mechanism and other international mechanisms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

e) To manage, build, and update the national database on climate change; to guide the use of information on climate change.

g) To take the lead in organizing negotiations, signing, and implementing international treaties and participating in international organizations on climate change; to mobilize international resources, coordinate and implement international cooperation projects and tasks on climate change within its jurisdiction.

h) To build, organize the implementation, manage, and monitor the execution of the Climate Change Response Support Program Framework (SP-RCC); to establish priority criteria, review, and determine priority project lists on climate change; to provide opinions on programs, projects, and tasks related to climate change proposed by ministries, sectors, and localities.

i) To serve as the national focal point for implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and other international treaties related to climate change and ozone layer protection; the national authority on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); the national specialized agency of the Climate Technology Network and Center (CTCN); the national focal point for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs); the national focal point for the Adaptation Fund.

k) To organize the implementation, inspection, guidance, and confirmation of import, export, temporary import, re-export, and use of ozone-depleting substances in accordance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

l) To assist the National Committee on Climate Change in urging, summarizing the results of the implementation of strategies, plans, programs, projects, and tasks related to climate change and green growth implemented by ministries, sectors, and localities.

15. Regarding remote sensing:

a) To guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of strategies, plans, proposals, and projects on remote sensing after they have been approved by competent authorities.

b) To guide and organize the application of remote sensing in monitoring natural resources, the environment, natural disasters, climate change, and other fields to serve state management, economic and social development, and national defense and security in accordance with the law.

c) To build and publish periodic and ad hoc monitoring and supervision reports on the situation of natural resource exploitation and use, environmental pollution, and climate change using remote sensing technology.

d) To build, manage, and operate remote sensing stations, data storage and processing systems, remote sensing databases, and remote sensing data transmission networks; to guide the protection of technical safety corridors around remote sensing stations.

đ) To compile the demand for remote sensing data collection from ministries, sectors, and localities; to build and organize the implementation of annual and five-year plans for remote sensing data collection and processing.

e) Directing, inspecting, and organizing the implementation of the construction, updating, and management of remote sensing data acquisition and provision; compiling and publishing national remote sensing metadata;

g) Reviewing the content related to remote sensing infrastructure, national remote sensing data acquisition, application, and development of remote sensing technology for programs, projects, and plans of ministries, sectors, and localities as prescribed by law;

h) Guiding and inspecting the remote sensing activities of organizations and individuals as prescribed by law;

i) Serving as the national focal point to participate in international organizations and forums on remote sensing;

16. Organizing the implementation of statistical work, inventory, and storage of materials and figures concerning areas under the Ministry's jurisdiction as prescribed by law;

17. Directing and organizing research, application, and deployment of scientific and technological progress in areas under the Ministry's jurisdiction; organizing editing and publishing publications on natural resources and the environment as prescribed by law;

18. International cooperation in areas under the Ministry's state management as prescribed by law; organizing negotiations and signing international treaties upon authorization from competent state agencies; signing international agreements on behalf of the Ministry; participating in international organizations as assigned by the Government;

19. Managing and organizing the implementation of information technology applications in the field of natural resources and the environment; providing online public services within the scope of the Ministry's state management; building, managing, operating, and ensuring the security of information systems and databases on natural resources and the environment; announcing and providing information and data on natural resources and the environment as prescribed by law;

20. Organizing and directing the implementation of the Ministry's administrative reform program in accordance with the objectives and content of the State administrative reform program approved by the Prime Minister;

21. Directing the construction, submission to competent authorities for decision-making, and guiding the implementation of planning for the development of organizational networks, public services, and mechanisms and policies for public service provision, socialization of public services in areas under the Ministry's jurisdiction;

22. Managing associations and non-governmental organizations operating in areas under the Ministry's state management as prescribed by law;

23. Representing the State's ownership interest in enterprises under the Ministry according to the provisions of law;

24. Managing organization, staffing, civil servant quota, number of officials, job positions, civil servant grade structure, official structure by profession; deciding on rotation, transfer, appointment, dismissal, resignation, assignment, commendation, disciplinary action, termination of employment, retirement, salary system, and incentive policies for cadres, civil servants, officials, and workers under the Ministry's management as prescribed; training and upgrading cadres, civil servants, officials, and workers in fields managed by the Ministry;

25. Inspecting, auditing; handling complaints, accusations, suggestions from organizations and citizens; implementing anti-corruption measures and dealing with violations of law in areas under the Ministry's state management;

26. Managing finance, assets entrusted, and using the state budget allocated according to the provisions of law;

27. Performing other tasks and powers delegated by the Government or the Prime Minister or as prescribed by law;

Article 3. Organizational Structure

1. Department of International Cooperation.

2. Department of Planning and Finance.

3. Department of Science and Technology.

4. The Legal Affairs Department.

5. Department of Motivation, Awards, and Propaganda;

6. Organization and Cadre Department.

7. The Ministry Inspectorate;

8. The Ministry Office;

9. Vietnam Marine and Island Management General Department;

10. Vietnam Geological and Mineral Resources Management General Department;

11. Land Administration General Department;

12. Environment General Department;

13. Meteorology and Hydrology General Department;

14. Information Technology and Natural Resources and Environment Data Department;

15. Surveying, Mapping, and Geographic Information Department of Vietnam;

16. Climate Change Department;

17. Water Resources Management Department;

18. National Remote Sensing Department;

19. Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment;

20. Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper;

21. Natural Resources and Environment Magazine;

22. National Water Resources Planning and Investigation Center;

23. Training and Upgrading Cadre School for Natural Resources and Environment;

In this Article, units specified from Clause 1 to Clause 18 are administrative units assisting the Minister in performing state management functions, while units specified from Clause 19 to Clause 23 are service units serving the state management functions of the Ministry;

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall submit to the Prime Minister for approval regulations on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Vietnam Marine and Island Management General Department, Vietnam Geological and Mineral Resources Management General Department, Land Administration General Department, Environment General Department, and Meteorology and Hydrology General Department; issuing a list of other affiliated service units;

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall prescribe the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of subordinate units of the Ministry, excluding those specified in Clauses 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of this Article;

The Department of Planning and Finance has four divisions; the Legal Department has three divisions; the Cadre and Civil Servant Department has three divisions; the Ministry Inspectorate has seven divisions; the Ministry Office has eight divisions;

The Department of Information Technology and Natural Resources and Environment Data has six divisions and one branch; the Department of Surveying, Mapping, and Geographic Information of Vietnam has seven divisions and one branch; the Climate Change Department has seven divisions; the Water Resources Management Department has nine divisions and three branches; the National Remote Sensing Department has six divisions;

Article 4. Effective date

1. This Decree takes effect from the date of issuance.

2. This Decree replaces Decree No. 21/2013/NĐ-CP dated March 4, 2013, of the Government prescribing the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; abolishing previous provisions that conflict with this Decree;

Article 5. Transitional Provisions

The National Meteorology and Hydrology Center, Vietnam Marine and Island Management General Department, Vietnam Geological and Mineral Resources Management General Department, Environment General Department, and Land Administration General Department continue to perform their functions, tasks, and powers according to current regulations until the Prime Minister decides on their functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structures.

Article 6. Responsibility for Implementation

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees are responsible for implementing this Decree./.