Environmental information under the Law on Environment Protection 2020 of Vietnam

Environmental information under the Law on Environment Protection 2020 of Vietnam (Internet image)

1. Environmental information under the Law on Environment Protection 2020 of Vietnam

According to Clause 1, Article 114 of the Law on Environment Protection 2020, environmental information includes:

- Information on pollutants, pollutant discharge streams into the environment, pollution sources; environmental protection efforts of investment projects, facilities, production areas, business, service clusters, and industrial clusters;

- Information on solid waste, hazardous waste, wastewater, exhaust gases, and other types of waste as stipulated by law;

- Information on the decision approving evaluation results, environmental impact assessment reports, excluding trade secrets, business secrets, state secrets; content of licensing, registration, certification, acknowledgment; inspection and audit results on environmental protection for investment projects, facilities, production areas, business, and service clusters, and industrial clusters as regulated;

- Information on environmental statistical indicators, environmental quality, environmental pollution;

- Information on natural heritage, natural ecosystems, species and genetic resources; nature reserves and biodiversity conservation facilities; important wetlands.

2. Regulations on the collection, storage and management of environmental information in Vietnam

The collection, storage and management of environmental information in Vietnam are regulated according to Clause 2, Article 114 of the Law on Environment Protection 2020 as follows:

- Environmental information is received to ensure accuracy, completeness, and promptness;

- The project owner or facility is responsible for regularly receiving, storing, and managing environmental information stipulated at points a, b, and c of Clause 1, Article 114 of the Law on Environment Protection 2020;

- Ministries and ministerial-level agencies receive, store, and manage environmental information within the scope of management stipulated at points d and dd of Clause 1, Article 114 of the Law on Environment Protection 2020;

- People's Committees at all levels receive, store, and manage environmental information in the local area and according to management hierarchy;

- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment receives and compiles national environmental information.

3. Regulations on the provision and publishing of environmental information in Vietnam

The provision and publishing of environmental information in Vietnam are regulated according to Clause 3, Article 114 of the Law on Environment Protection 2020 as follows:

- The state encourages organizations and individuals to participate in providing environmental information;

- Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and provincial-level People's Committees are responsible for providing environmental information that they receive, store, and manage to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment through the national environmental information system and database or as stipulated by law;

- Project owners and facilities are responsible for providing environmental information stipulated at points a, b, and c of Clause 1, Article 114 of the Law on Environment Protection 2020 to state environmental protection agencies through the national environmental information system and database or as stipulated by law;

- Agencies, organizations, and individuals disclose environmental information according to regulations on their web portals or by other means, ensuring convenience for relevant subjects to receive information. The disclosure of environmental information must comply with the provisions of the Law on Environment Protection 2020 and other relevant laws.

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