Vietnam, Netherlands seek nature-based measures for sustainable development
Vietnamese and Dutch experts shared experience in policy building, nature-based and technical solutions and mobilisation of financial resources for sustainable development, at a workshop held in Hanoi on March 19.
Vietnam has favourable conditions to develop nature-based economic sectors, according to Dutch experts. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese and Dutch experts shared experience inpolicy building, nature-based and technical solutions and mobilisation offinancial resources for sustainable development, at a workshop held in Hanoi onMarch 19.
At the event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and EnvironmentLe Cong Thanh and Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management MarkHarbers held that both nations have similar natural environments and been hardhit by climate change, with Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region experiencing landerosion, saline intrusion and sand depletion, and 25% of the Netherlands’ areasbelow the sea level.
According to Thanh, Vietnam has carried out climate mitigation measures overthe past 15 years while nature-based solutions have been undertaken in the recent10 years.
The Netherlands, who found out thenature-based development models, have run a lot of projects in Vietnam, helpingthe country handle challenges in food security, water resources security,natural disasters’ risks, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, he said,adding Vietnam has strengthened resilience and adaptive capacity in several areas,including forest preservation, restoration of the natural ecosystem, and developmentof the low-carbon agriculture.
Dutch experts said that investing in nature-based measures is fordevelopment that benefits biodiversity and natural ecosystem, stressing as oneof the most biodiverse countries in the world, Vietnam has favourableconditions to develop nature-based economic sectors.
However, the measures must be suitable tothe country’s environment, climate, soil, and financial capacity of enterprisesand local people, they added.
Also present at the workshop, specialists from the World Bank and AsiaDevelopment Bank affirmed to continue supporting and accompanying the VietnameseGovernment in developing nature-based solutions towards realising the sustainable developmentgoals./.
The concept of a circular economy, which remains relatively new in Vietnam, is rapidly gaining strength as a trend, and is also seen as a key measure for the country to innovate sustainable growth paradigms and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Canada is committed to supporting and promoting sustainable development and resilience in the region and Vietnam, said its Climate Change Ambassador Catherine Stewart.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
Vietnam has favourable conditions to develop nature-based economic sectors, according to Dutch experts. (Photo: VNA) 
