Vietnam and US Cooperate to Tackle Environmental Pollution Challenges

The international seminar "Local Initiatives - Cooperation and Development for the Environment of Vietnam" took place in two days June 21-22 in Da Nang. Photo: USAID

On June 21, in Da Nang, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the People's Committee and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Da Nang City, and local partners organized an international seminar "Local Initiatives - Cooperation and Development for the Environment of Vietnam".

This is an event to summarize the results achieved from the joint efforts of the parties over the past 7 years to solve the challenges of environmental pollution in Vietnam.

In his speech at the event, Bradley Bessire, Deputy Mission Director of USAID Vietnam said, "Today, we summarize the results of the joint effort, and look to the future as we hand over successful models and products from USAID-funded projects to local governments for maintenance.

Together, we fostered innovation and experimentation to tackle pollution problems with models and initiatives with great potential to be replicated across the country".

Through five USAID-funded projects with a total budget of US$7.2 million, partners worked with a wide range of stakeholders to raise awareness and take action to tackle the challenges of air pollution, water and plastic waste pollution.

These activities include developing a new data framework on issues related to environmental health and pollution, forming a network of stakeholders at central and local levels to jointly take action.

They facilitate diverse, transparent dialogues and provide scientific input to support policy formulation at the central and local levels, mobilize local resources for locally-led initiatives to address pollution problems, and pilot models of pollution reduction and sustainable resource management.

The handover ceremony of local initiative results for 5 projects within the framework of the workshop. Photo: USAID

The projects provided information to support the development of the revised Law on Water Resources Management, supported stakeholders to successfully develop and advocate for the application of 8 local-level policies, including the requirement for air quality studies to be more effective in monitoring air quality and providing better solutions.

They simultaneously controlled outdoor waste burning and motorcycle emissions, raising a total of US$2.1 million through 5 projects for local efforts, supporting 15 local-led initiatives to contribute to the realization of the project "Building Da Nang-an environmental city".

Vietnam Water Conservation Network (VIWACON) was established, building a network of more than 80 member organizations to jointly act for clean water.

They supported 21 solid waste management models in terms of collecting, sorting and recycling the total amount of waste equivalent to the weight of 200 passenger cars, building 48 water supply systems in schools, and communities, benefiting more than 5,400 students, teachers and households.

They promoted citizen participation in environmental monitoring and urban air pollution reduction, such as the installation of air quality sensors in more than 100 schools and offices in Hanoi.

Below are five USAID-funded projects as part of the global program "Local Initiatives," that are implemented to support locally-led development projects in more than 30 countries around the world.

The project "Join hands to protect water resources", implemented by the Center for Environmental and Community Research (CECR) in 2020-2023 in Da Nang and Hoi An.

The project "Join hands to act for clean air", implemented by the Center for Living and Learning for Environment and Community (Live&Learn) in 2019-2022 in Hanoi and Da Nang.

Project "Vietnam local works for environmental health", implemented by Institute of Population, Health and Development (PHAD) in the period 2017-2022 in An Giang, Thanh Hoa, Ha Nam and Ha Giang.

Project "Clean Air - Green City", implemented by Live&Learn in the period 2017-2020 in Hanoi.

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