To complete the legal system on resource management and environmental protection of the sea and islands in Vietnam

To complete the legal system on resource management and environmental protection of the sea and islands in Vietnam (Internet image)

The Government of Vietnam issued Resolution 48/NQ-CP on April 3, 2023 approving the Strategy for the exploitation and sustainable use of natural resources and the environmental protection of seas and islands until 2030, with a vision to 2050.

To complete the legal system on resource management and environmental protection of the sea and islands in Vietnam

Specifically, in Resolution 48/NQ-CP, the Government has proposed solutions to improve the legal system on resource management and environmental protection of the sea and islands as follows:

- Reviewing and perfecting the legal system on natural resources and the environment of the sea and islands; studying and developing a Law on Management and Use of Marine Areas in order to regulate the allocation of certain marine areas to organizations and individuals for exploitation and use of marine resources;

Soon, the government will fully issue mechanisms and policies to mobilize and effectively use all domestic and foreign resources to fully exploit the potential of marine resources;

Researching and formulating legal regulations on budgeting for marine resources and the environment at central and local levels; actively participating in and actively promoting the formation of global and regional mechanisms related to marine and island resources.

- Formulating policies to encourage socio-economic development in combination with defense and security protection on islands, especially outpost islands.

- Consolidating the system of general state management agencies in charge of the sea from central to local levels to ensure modernity and synchronization; building a contingent of highly qualified and professional staff; 

Improving the efficiency of coordination between agencies—between the central and local authorities in the state management of marine and island resources; forming an inter-sectoral coordinating agency to uniformly direct the implementation of the Strategy.

- Strengthening the capacity and organizing the apparatus for general management of natural resources and environmental protection of the sea and islands with sufficient competence to carry out the work of coordination, coordination, and settlement of overlapping conflicts between ministries, branches, and localities in the exploitation and use of natural resources and environmental protection of the sea and islands.

- Formulating a sustainable investment policy for the tasks of general management of seas and islands and investing in the development of programs, projects, and the construction of key economic works; socializing public non-business services in the field of seas and islands.

- Building a legal corridor to apply economic tools in the management of marine resources and the environment, such as pollution fees, discharge fees, product fees, tax administration fees, marine environmental funds, and other subsidies.

Orientation for marine and island environmental protection to 2030 in Vietnam 

In order to protect the marine and island environment by 2030, the government of Vietnam has set the following priorities:

- Periodically carrying out investigation, statistics, classification, monitoring, and evaluation of pollution types, pollution status, and sources of marine environmental pollution.

- Stepping up investigation and assessment of environmental load capacity, determine the level of risks of marine environmental pollution for marine economic development; conduct risk zoning and mapping of marine environmental pollution risk zoning; announce areas of sea and islands exceeding the environmental load capacity.

By 2025, complete mapping of pollution risk zoning and assessment of environmental load capacity will be available in some high pollution risk areas in coastal waters.

- Strengthening capacity and proactively control, monitor and deal with regional and global marine environmental issues including transboundary pollution, ocean acidification and other related issues.

- Prioritizing resources from environmental protection funds to implement the National Action Plan on ocean plastic waste management to 2030. By 2030, the rate of recovery and treatment of plastic waste at beaches, marine resorts and marine protected areas will reach 100%.

- Strengthening the capacity of the system of general monitoring and supervision of resources and the environment of the sea and islands.

By 2030, the integrated monitoring and surveillance system is completed, operates effectively, and is connected and integrated with data from the national information system, a database of resources, and the environment of the sea and islands.

- Consolidating the organization and develop tools, means, and sanctions to enhance the effectiveness of coordination, inspection, examination, and supervision in the control and treatment of marine and island environmental pollution.

More details can be found in Resolution 48/NQ-CP takes effect from the date of signing.

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