Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha presented several proposals for water management while attending a UN Plenary Session in New York on March 22, state media reported.
The meeting was part of the ongoing United Nations (UN)’s Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” for 2018-2028.
In his speech, Mr. Ha fanned his concern about water shortages facing one-third of the world’s population and negative impacts on the water resources, such as climate change, natural disasters, and pollution. He stressed the need of a global science-based legal framework to orient and coordinate the sustainable exploitation, use, and restoration of water resources.
Mr. Ha also urged countries to form global and regional sci-tech centers on water, a monitoring network and a database on water, and plans for the exploitation, use, and improvement of water quality for transboundary rivers.
Besides, he suggested establishing a scientific committee on transboundary water and an international river council managed by the UN, while setting up a transboundary river basin financial fund or expanding the river basin financing function for the Global Environment Facility.
The world needs to have a social ethical standard in relations and behaviors regarding water resources, especially transboundary water, for the rights and interests of other countries in river basins, Mr. Ha added.
Spotlighting Vietnam’s achievements in water management and protection, the Vietnamese Deputy PM affirmed that Vietnam vows to maintain cooperation with other countries, actively participate in action programs and collaboration initiatives on water and water security, and share information, particularly with countries with shared water sources. (Bao Tai Nguyen Moi Truong [1], Bao Xay Dung [2], Vietnam Plus [3], Sputnik Vietnamese [4], Bao Chinh Phu [5])