Description

In a conference held yesterday, on 6th October, by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE, the national circular economy network was introduced. The network has been established under the collaboration between MONRE, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the embassies of the Netherlands, Norway, and Finland in Vietnam.

The operation form of the network will be the public private partnership. The MONRE, Institute of Natural Resources and Environmental Database, and UNDP will manage and operate the network. An Advisory Council supported by the working groups will carry out the network`s coordination activities. Members of the Advisory Council will include policymakers, localities, business associations, customers (associations), and social organizations. The network has five components including (1) policy dialog, (2) knowledge sharing and case studies, (3) financial information, (4) enterprise forum, and (5) database. According to UNDP, the network will connect existing initiatives and stakeholders at the national and global levels. Besides other activities, there will be an electronic portal in English and Vietnamese, training courses, and seminars to promote dialogue, develop methods, and mobilize actions towards the circular economy transition.

In Vietnam, the term circular economy was first mentioned officially in the revised Law on Environmental Protection 2020, Article 142, which will be enforced on 1st January 2022. The promotion of the circular economy model for “integrated and efficient use of production outputs” was also referred to in the Strategy for Socio-Economic Development 2021 – 2030, vision 2045, issued in 2021. Presently, the MONRE is developing a draft Decree to implement the revised Law on Environmental Protection and it will also include the pathways and incentive mechanisms to implement circular economy. Furthermore, MONRE will develop and submit to the Prime Minister for the release of the National Action Plan for Implementation of Circular Economy before 31 December 2023.

Sources & further information: “Conference sheds light on national circular economy network” at https://en.vietnamplus.vn and “Khởi động Mạng lưới kinh tế tuần hoàn tại Việt Nam” at https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn, accessed on 7 October 2021.