Vietnam, Japan Hold Eighth Environmental Policy Dialogue

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh and State Minister of the Environment Yagi Tetsuya co-chaired the eighth Vietnam - Japan environmental policy dialogue in a hybrid format on January 12, local media reported.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister Thanh highlighted the event's importance as the memorandum of understanding for cooperation that the two ministries signed in 2020 expired, saying that this is an opportunity for the two ministries to discuss to open up a new phase of cooperation in the environment, climate change, and plastic waste reduction.

Lauding the Joint Credit Mechanism proposed by the Japanese Government, Mr. Thanh said that his ministry is studying mechanisms to consult with the Vietnamese government about measures to increase management of carbon credits in Vietnam. To date, more than 40 projects related to the mechanism have been carried out in Vietnam, boosting Vietnam’s capacity in fulfilling Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and promoting the process of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

He added that Vietnam also wishes to receive Japan’s support in ameliorating some legal frameworks related to environment, building solutions to a natural disaster early warning system, and solving pollution.

Appreciating the fruitful collaboration at the waste-to-energy plant in Bac Ninh, he proposed further Japanese assistance to Vietnam in managing electronic waste and collecting and treating minerals in this waste category. Additionally, Vietnam seeks support in processing end-of-life solar panels, sharing Japan's expertise in economically circular waste management, low-carbon technology, greenhouse gas emission reduction.

Minister Yagi, for his part, said that his ministry is making efforts to apply measures on early warning in countries in the Asia-Pacific region via the public-private partnership.

Mr. Yagi affirmed that the Japanese Ministry of the Environment always stands ready to cooperate and accompany the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to carry out activities on environmental protection and climate change adaptation. 

(Tin Tuc, Bao Tai Nguyen Moi Truong, Bao Tai Nguyen Moi Truong 1, Vietnam Plus)