On October 2022, Tran Hong Ha, Vietnam’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, had a meeting with Antti Kurvinen, Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, to discuss approaches to combat climate change, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and manage water resources.
The government of Vietnam is currently revising the Law on Water Resources and believes that Finland’s expertise in water management can support the Southeast Asian nation finalize the regulations. Mr. Ha suggested that Finland develop a project on water resources to share its experience in technology and management strategies, as well as measures to restore and protect places and subterranean aquifers with low water levels, pollution, and salinity.
In order to make Vietnam’s promises at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) more concrete, Mr.Ha also expressed his hope that the Finnish Minister will assist in establishing connections with and fostering cooperation with international partners. He recommended the Finnish side to work closely with Vietnam to establish initiatives for climate change adaptation and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Finland is one of the most active partners of Vietnam in terms of environmental collaboration. In 2019, the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and its partner CLIC Innovation organized a workshop where Vietnamese decision-makers and experts from both the national and local levels to establish goals addressing environmental concerns.
SYKE and Vietnam’s Board of Science and Training of the Institute of Natural Resources and Environment Training (InNET) agreed to work together by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Two major towns chosen for a pilot project aiming at providing methods and criteria for sustainable public procurement were Can Tho (1.7 million residents), in the Mekong Delta and Da Nang (1.1 million residents), an industrial and tourist town in the country’s center.
(Source: VietnamPlus, Business Finland)
