Urgent to reduce emissions

Research by the Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (National University of Ho Chi Minh City) has shown that the rapid economic development and strong urbanization have brought many opportunities and advantages to Ho Chi Minh City in the industrialization process. modernization. However, these factors also bring many challenges in terms of environment and social security, in which it is noteworthy that the issue of greenhouse gas emissions is increasing sharply, which seriously affects the quality air and people’s health. The study showed that HCMC’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 were over 58 million tons of CO2. In which, industrial activities emit more than 17.6 million tons of CO2. The industries with high emissions are chemical (63%), textile (16.1%), metal production (14.7%)… Road transport activities emit more than 13, 4 million tons of CO2, motorcycles alone are the largest emitters – accounting for nearly 63%.

Mr. Nguyen Tin Huy, Director of the Business Office for Sustainable Development (under the Vietnam Confederation of Trade and Industry – VCCI), cited a report by the Japan International Development Agency showing that the level of Ho Chi Minh City’s electricity consumption by 2030 is estimated at 14 billion kWh, equivalent to an emission level of nearly 12 million tons of CO2. This is considered one of the main causes of the greenhouse effect and climate change, which has been affecting many aspects of life and economic development of Ho Chi Minh City.

According to estimates by international environmental organizations, every year, more than 20 million people around the world lose their homes and livelihoods due to the effects of climate change. Therefore, many countries began to consider the calculation of emissions. “Currently, climate change is the most urgent and serious issue. Therefore, the strengthening of solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions needs to be implemented more strongly,” emphasized Mr. Nguyen Tin Huy.

(Electric buses begin to deploy in Ho Chi Minh City)

Synchronized solutions

According to Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan, there are 140 large establishments in the area of ​​​​energy, construction, industry and trade that need to carry out an inventory of greenhouse gases according to Decision 01/2022/QD-TTg. Over the past time, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has actively prepared steps to work with other departments, branches, districts and districts to guide establishments and businesses to carry out the steps of inventorying, reporting and developing emission reduction plans. at the request of the Government. To implement this activity, from the beginning of 2022, the city has coordinated with the World Bank (WB) to establish a Joint Working Group between the city and the World Bank on inclusive and sustainable development. The Joint Working Group has 8 technical groups to focus on developing 8 component projects, including the Low Carbon Emissions Group.

The low carbon urban plan in HCMC includes activities, recommendations and action proposals needed to achieve the city’s development goals in the area of ​​low carbon emissions; propose investment programs in priority areas; propose to solve policy problems with ministries, central sectors and organizations calling for capital and technical support from the World Bank and partners to implement the low carbon plan. The low-carbon group is working to align incentives, approaches that prioritize activities with the highest impact and cost-effectiveness as possible.

Commenting on solutions for the city to effectively implement the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, some experts said that the most important thing is that the departments, agencies and sectors in the city must participate in an effective manner. synchronized. Assoc. Prof-Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan, Director of the Institute for Research and Development of Circular Economy, analyzed that in order to deploy effective solutions, it is necessary to have a comprehensive connection between individuals and units. From there, creating a chain of circular – cyclic links brings multi-values.

Assoc. Prof-Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan mentioned, for example, the city has invested in developing the metro line, but to encourage people to participate in this means, it requires the synchronous participation of departments and agencies. Accordingly, the Department of Transport must have solutions to develop other means of connection so that it is most convenient, have solutions to propagate and encourage people to limit personal cars, towards public vehicles. The Department of Planning and Economics also needs to plan reasonable auxiliary routes to connect…

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phung Chi Sy, Vietnam Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment, with the regulations of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ho Chi Minh City must comply with the inventory and cut greenhouse gas emissions in 5 areas, including: production. industry, transportation, energy, agricultural activities, waste treatment. In order to reduce greenhouse gases towards low-carbon urban development, the city needs specific solutions in each area, it is necessary to develop a master plan with the synchronous participation of all units, Avoid strong situations that everyone does. For example, in the field of industrial production, it is necessary to apply and deploy solutions for cleaner production, green production to save materials, electricity, water and promote waste recycling.

For the energy sector, it is necessary to switch to clean and renewable energy sources. In the field of transportation, it is necessary to step up the control of vehicle emissions, develop electric vehicles, etc. In agriculture, limit the use of fertilizers and pesticides; promote recycling of waste and by-products in agricultural production as organic fertilizer… For urban waste treatment, it is necessary to invest in advanced and modern technologies to proceed to burning waste to generate electricity. However, the city should determine which areas emit the most, then focus resources to implement first, otherwise spreading will not be effective.

Source: SGGP Newspaper