At the launch ceremony (Photo: US Embassy in Vietnam) The project is conducted by the United States Mission to Vietnam, through theUS Agency for International Development (USAID), and Vietnam’s Ministry ofNatural Resources and Environment (MONRE), through Vietnamese-led collectiveaction.
The new project is implemented by USAID partner Winrock International in closecooperation with MONRE.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Joining the launch ceremony were MONRE Minister Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Chief ofMission Melissa Bishop, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Aler Grubbs, and WinrockInternational President and CEO Rodney Ferguson.
“The launch of USAID’s Reducing Pollution project is an important part of thecollaboration between USAID and MONRE. We signed an MOU in January 2022 toimprove environmental outcomes, and this Reducing Pollution project is a greatfirst milestone. Our joint efforts will raise awareness and promote actions ledby Vietnamese to reduce environmental pollution and support Vietnam inachieving its climate change goals,” said Aler Grubbs, USAID/Vietnam MissionDirector.
Vietnam faces a series of environmental pollution challenges largely spurred byagriculture, transportation, and industrial production.
Public interest in environmental quality has steadily increased, along withcalls for action to improve the environment.
The Government of Vietnam released National Action Plans related to airquality, water conservation, and plastic waste pollution, demonstrating thecountry’s commitment to ensuring broad cooperation to address environmentalpollution challenges.
Minister Ha expressed his confidence in the project’s success, as the newenvironmental law is being implemented nationwide, and called on all relevantparties, including experts, scientists, and organisations and agencies tocreate favourable conditions for the project to be carried out in Vietnam.
The Reducing Pollution project will address multiple sources of environmentalpollution. The project will bringtogether different people to collaborate, identify ways to solve a sharedproblem, and take action.
The project will work closely with MONRE’s Vietnam Environment Administration,and the project will demonstrate clear connections between environmentalbenefits and other social benefits, including public health, employment, andsustainable economic growth.
To foster Vietnamese leadership in addressing environmental pollution, theproject will provide grants to a series of local entities to serve as the“backbone” for each collective impact initiative. These backbone organisationswill serve as the local leaders for each initiative, including gaining publicsupport, advancing policy, and leveraging additional funding.
Through a broad consultative process with authorised government agencies, localcommunities, and environmental experts, the Reducing Pollution project hasidentified six priority collective impact initiatives that reflect strongpolitical will, community leadership, and engagement from private sectorpartners to address environmental pollution challenges.
Pioneering Company, Community and Consumer Responsibility in Plastic WasteReduction in Vietnam (P3CR);
Developing Circular Economy Model in Medical Plastic Waste Management;
Reducing Air Pollution from Road Transportation;
Reducing Air Pollution from Open Burning;
Reducing Pollution in Craft Villages; and
Developing a Transparent Environmental Data Disclosure Platform.
Also at the launch event, the MONRE and Winrock International signed anagreement to promote cooperation in environmental protection, climate change,and biodiversity conservation in Vietnam./.
VNA