Addressing a discussion themed “Safeguard a Healthy Planet” at the 11th Global Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament that opened in the United Arab Emirates’ capital city of Abu Dhabi on December 12, the Vietnamese NA leader noted that industrial revolutions boosted growth in many countries, but also harmed the environment.

Exhausted natural resources, climate change and environmental pollution are becoming more serious, along with increasing extreme weather phenomena, devastating the biodiversity on earth, she said.

Ngan lauded the efforts of countries in tackling environmental pollution as well as responding to climate change, especially the formation of the Paris Agreement on Climate change in 2015 that serves as a legal framework for  climate change response.

The UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to the environment in the Development Agenda 2030 are also expected to open a new era of growth, including the development of low-carbon emission and environmental-friendly production models with minimised use of fossil fuels and increased use of green energy, she stated. 

Highlighting that Vietnam is among countries hardest hit by climate change and rising sea levels, she declared that Vietnam approved the Paris Agreement on November 3, 2016 before the deal becomes effective. With the support of international community, Vietnam is launching a national strategy on climate change and another on green growth.

Vietnam’s NA has adopted Laws on Environment, Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, and Economical Effective Use of Energy, she noted.

She also underscored the role of women in socio-economic development and environmental protection in all countries.

She also proposed a number of measures to enhance the role of women, especially women parliamentarians in uniting for a green world, including the completion of legal system and the distribution of adequate resources for the implementation of policies related to environmental protection and climate change response.

Legislative bodies in each country should integrate the SDGs into socio-economic their policies with a priority on gender equality, sustainable employment and protecting the environment, she suggested.

She also pointed to the need to strengthen communications and training for women to reduce the impact of climate change and natural disasters, as well as international partnerships, experience sharing and mutual support in technology and finance for projects in low-carbon economy, climate change response and gender equality.

The NA leader recommended that participants review the implementation of initiatives given each year to tackle arising problems.

During the event, female parliament leaders discussed ways to raise public awareness of policies on environmental protection and the sustainable use of water and forest resources in each country.

NA Chairwoman Ngan said the NA of Vietnam has paid much attention to ensuring the country’s legal system is suitable to the country’s commitments, while prioritising budget allocation to climate change response and supervising the Government to ensure commitments that Vietnam has joined are effective.

Vietnam is taking measures in line with the Hanoi Declaration at the 132nd International Parliament Union’s Assembly in 2015, which shows the union members’ commitments to implement the UN SDGs to 2030, stated Ngan.

VNA