Businesses are shifting towards green practices as a strategic advantage

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in collaboration with the Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper organized the 8th Forum on "Managers - Journalists - Businesses with Natural Resources and Environment" in 2024. The event was held with the theme "Green Economy - Producers' Responsibility" on the morning of June 27.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh shared that the business community's understanding of sustainable business practices and reducing environmental emissions has significantly improved over the years. Accordingly, a significant number of businesses have adopted green business practices as a strategic and competitive advantage. Various economic groups and major businesses have embraced the green transition to address climate change and develop a low-carbon economy, with the aim of achieving the Net Zero target.

However, this change mainly occurs in major businesses and foreign-invested companies, whereas small and medium-sized businesses, which make up a significant portion of the business community, have failed to demonstrate an equal level of enthusiasm and progress.

As a result, businesses must actively pursue a drastic transformation; and enhance their understanding and awareness regarding their role in environmental protection, climate change response, and compliance with relevant domestic and international regulations.

Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh further emphasized the need for strong policies with the motto "investment in the environment is investment in sustainable development." On the other hand, he called for the mobilization of social resources and international community support.

Stakeholders must propose a new system of viewpoints and mindset to meet the 2050 outlook. Accordingly, the government must play a constructive and leading role, while businesses and citizens are at the center and forefront of implementation, with the support of political and social organizations.

Launch of the largest environmental journalism award to date

At the Forum, journalist Le Xuan Trung, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre Newspaper and Standing Deputy Head of the Green Media Hub, launched the Green Development Journalism Award to encourage journalists' participation, thereby enhancing public awareness and mobilizing joint efforts to protect the environment.

The award's theme focuses on various topics: "Greening Vietnam" addresses contemporary issues such as the green economic transition from awareness to action, from policies to practical applications, and from exemplary models to broader societal engagement; behavioral and habitual shifts among individuals and communities towards environmentally-friendly practices, including green consumption, eco-tourism, and green lifestyles; efforts to achieve the goal of net zero emissions by 2050, according to Vietnam's commitment to the global community.

The prizes will honor journalistic works on green development themes: innovative ideas, stories, issues, events, interesting and unique personalities, inspiring messages and entrepreneurial initiatives, fostering green economic development, carbon credit markets, and climate change resilience.

Other topics of interest include initiatives from the general public, community contributions, solutions, and corporate responsibilities in promoting circular economic development under the 3Rs framework (reduce, reuse, recycle); policy directions, management plans, efficient and environmentally-friendly resource utilization by local and central agencies and organizations.

The award will run from October 1, 2023 to May 28, 2025, with the awards ceremony scheduled for June 2025. Substantial prizes will be awarded during the event, including a Special Prize of 100,000,000 VND, and an Innovative Prize of 100,000,000 VND.

Additionally, there is a First Prize for print and online newspapers of 50,000,000 VND and a Radio-Television Prize of 80,000,000 VND; making this event the largest environmental journalism award to date.

According to journalist Le Xuan Trung, the inaugural Green Development Journalism Award 2023-2025 aims to commend and reward journalistic works that contribute to greening Vietnam. Participants include both specialized and non-specialized journalists. The award is jointly organized by the Green Media Hub, the Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper, and the Journalism Cultural Center (Vietnam Journalists' Association).

A green economy is characterized by low carbon emissions, minimal environmental hazards, and protected natural resources. Within this framework, the green economy incorporates economic activities with environmental and resource protection issues. Vietnam's national climate change strategy until 2050 sets ambitious goals to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, demonstrating the country's proactive and responsible engagement with the international community in protecting Earth's climate system. Vietnam will capitalize on opportunities from climate change adaptation to adjust its growth model, and enhance the resilience, competitiveness of its economy.

According to the National Green Growth Strategy for the years between 2021 and 2030, with a vision towards 2050, the government has set the following targets: reducing emissions intensity per GDP by at least 15% by 2030 compared to 2014, and by at least 30% by 2050; urban solid waste collection and treatment in compliance with standards and regulations are targeted to reach 95% by 2030; wastewater collection and treatment in compliance with standards and regulations are targeted to reach over 50% for urban areas classified as type II and above, and over 20% for other urban areas.