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The recognition of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in Cao Bang province
as a UNESCO Global Geopark is among the outstanding events in 2018
selected by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
The following are the events:
1. The 8th plenum of the 12th Party Central Committee issued Resolution 36-NQ-TW
dated October 22, 2018 on the Strategy on Sustainable Development of the Marine
Economy to 2030 with a vision to 2045. The resolution outlines five major
policies on developing the marine and coastal economy along with three
breakthroughs and seven key groups of solutions.
2. The 14th National Assembly adopted the Law on Measurement and Map. This is
the first time Vietnam has had a law regulating professional activities in the
field of measurement and mapping, which is significant in the context of the
Fourth Industrial Revolution.
3. Many policies of the Party regarding the management of land and natural
resources, environmental protection and response to climate change have been
reviewed and assessed in a comprehensive manner. The policies included the 11th
Party Central committee’s Resolution 19-NQ/TW dated October 31, 2012 on
continuing to reform land-related policies and law, and Resolution 24-NQ/TW on
making proactive response to climate change, strengthening the management of
natural resources and environmental protection. The assessment helped pinpoint
outstanding problems and shortcomings which must be addressed in the time
ahead.
4. The Prime Minister issued Directive 27/CT-TTg dated September 17, 2018 on
urgent measures to tighten management of the import of waste and use of imported
waste as production materials amid the piling up of imported waste at sea ports.
The MoNRE also promulgated circulars on national environmental standards for six
types of imported waste in high demand which are scrap iron, steel; plastics;
paper; glass; non-ferrous metals; and slag.
5. The sixth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) took place in
Vietnam with the participation of nearly 1,500 delegates, including heads of
State, Government leaders, ministers, heads of environmental agencies of 183
countries, UN agencies, non-governmental organisations, international financial
institutes, and experts. The same year, Vietnam successfully organized several
key international events in the field of natural resource and environment, such
as the 50th session of the Typhoon Committee, the 15th Regional Congress on
Geology, Mineral and Energy Resources of Southeast Asia, and the 25th meeting of
the Mekong River Commission Council.
6. The initiatives on forming a global cooperation mechanism for reducing
plastic waste and building a regional partnership in management of plastic waste
in Southeast Asia proposed by Vietnam at the expanded Group of Seven (G7) Summit
in Canada and the 6th GEF Assembly won appreciation of the international
community. In implementing the initiatives, the MoNRE launched a large-scale
campaign to reduce plastic waste and the use of disposable plastic goods, which
received warm response from agencies, organisations and the community.
7. The Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in the northern province of Cao Bang was
recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark at the 204th session of the UNESCO
Consecutive Council in April. It is the second UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark
in Vietnam after Dong Van Karst Plateau, which was accredited in 2010. The park
is also the eight of its kind in Southeast Asia to receive the status. The Non
Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark covers more than 3,000 sq.km. spreading across nine
districts.
8. Hanoi becomes the first city in the country to invest in an air monitoring
system meeting national standards, with 10 automatic air monitoring stations put
into use in 2018, a mobile air monitoring vehicle, six water surface monitoring
stations and an information and operation centre. Data on air quality are
updated around the clock and publicised using various media for the public to
keep check of the air quality where they live.
9. Speeding up the implementation of the e-Government, IT application,
administrative reform and streamlining of business conditions and commodities
subject to specialised inspection in the field of natural resources and
environment. An interactive network has been completed connecting the MoNRE, the
departments of natural resources and the environment of 63 provinces, the
People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, and governmental
agencies, allowing them to contact, send and receive documents. A total of 102
out of 163 business conditions were abolished (62.6 percent, surpassing the
Government’s target of 12.6 percent), and the number of commodities subject to
specialised inspection was reduced by 38, from 74 to 36 (51.3 percent).
10. Freshwater was found at a depth of 80m on Bach Long Vi Island, an offshore
district of the northern city of Hai Phong. The island, which is 100km from the
mainland, often suffers from water shortage. The two drilled wells have a
combined flow of 75 cubic metres per day.
Source: VNA
.jpeg "Farewell to the \"King of Cups\"")
.jpeg "Thank You, Xuan Son!")
