VGP – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) formalized their partnership on addressing the complex challenges of climate change and environmental pollution through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“The recent COP26 meetings held in Glasgow aimed at accelerating humanity’s cooperation in climate change and underlined the importance collective action to preserve and sustain our environment and planet,” Yastishock, USAID Mission Director, stated today. USAID is pleased to acknowledge the commitments made at COP26 by Viet Nam’s Prime Minister. We are ready to help Viet Nam achieve these important goals. This MOU will facilitate USAID and MONRE’s effective collaboration on climate change and pollution. It will also bring us closer to bringing environmental awareness and positive change for Viet Nam and its citizens.
Viet Nam’s long, densely populated coastline has been ranked by World Bank as one of the top five countries most likely to be affected by climate change. A large proportion of the country’s population, as well as its economic assets, are located in the coastal lowlands or deltas. These areas are susceptible to frequent typhoons floods, droughts, flooding, and landslides. Viet Nam also faces environmental pollution issues due to the growth of agriculture, transportation, industry, and other industries.
USAID and MONRE will collaborate on air quality management; integrated resource management and security; conservation and sustainable uses of biological diversity; recycling of ocean plastics and solid waste; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Over the past five years, USAID has been working closely with Viet Nam to foster collective action by local actors—including the Government of Viet Nam, private sector, social organizations and citizens—to raise awareness of the causes and effects of environmental pollution challenges, and to increase knowledge of effective strategies for reducing environmental pollution. USAID believes that solving complex environmental issues is a long-term process that requires strong collaboration and joint action from Government of Viet Nam entities, citizens, the private sector, and local organizations—which all have common concerns and share mutual benefits of addressing specific environmental pollution issues. USAID empowers local actors to identify and address environmental challenges. This promotes locally-led and sustained development and contributes Viet Nam to its prosperity, quality and sustainable economic growth.
