Improving Environmental Standards: An Urgent Requirement for Sustainable Development and Integration.

Improving Vietnam’s system of environmental technical regulations and standards is an urgent task. It’s not just about controlling pollution and improving environmental quality, but also about meeting the demands of green development and international economic integration. This is a crucial tool for balancing economic growth with environmental protection while also enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods in the global market.

The Crucial Role of Environmental Standards Today

Environmental technical standards, regulations, and norms play an indispensable role in environmental management. They are not only a legal tool for protecting the environment and public health, but also a technical measure for assessing environmental quality and controlling pollution.

At a seminar co-organized by the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on August 29th, experts all emphasized that Vietnam cannot remain an outlier in the global trend of tightening environmental standards. Developed nations, such as members of the European Union (EU) and the United States, have adopted very high standards, like the European Green Deal, to promote sustainable production and consumption. According to a report from the World Trade Organization (WTO), environmental-related technical barriers are becoming increasingly common in international trade, forcing businesses to comply strictly in order to access these markets.

Progress and Requirements for Improving Environmental Standards and Regulations

Mr. Ta Dinh Thi, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment, stressed that technical regulations, standards, and economic-technical norms hold a key role in environmental management. They are not only a vital legal tool for protecting the environment and public interests but also a technical measure for evaluating environmental quality and controlling pollution.

In Vietnam, the system of technical regulations and standards has received significant attention and has been improved to align with international norms and meet the requirements of integration, all while ensuring feasibility and suitability for domestic conditions.

In addition, the development and issuance of economic-technical norms have also been accelerated, providing a basis for determining service prices, preparing budget estimates, and enhancing the efficiency of financial management and public service quality.

This also serves as an important legal foundation for task assignments and bidding at both the central and local levels, helping to ensure transparency, fairness, and efficiency in resource allocation.

Recently, Vietnam has made significant strides in building and improving its system of environmental technical standards and regulations, gradually moving closer to international benchmarks. For the 2021-2025 period, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued 27 out of 31 Vietnamese standards and is continuing to finalize the remaining ones.

Regarding the development of these standards, a representative from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment stated that for the 2021–2025 period, they have issued 27 out of 31 Vietnamese standards, with the remaining 4 to be completed in 2025. During the development process, the ministry has both consulted international experience and applied strict standards while ensuring they are suitable for Vietnam’s conditions and economic growth objectives.

Furthermore, the ministry is gathering feedback from management agencies, experts, and businesses to promote the circular economy and transform waste into resources. It is also coordinating with the Ministry of Finance to establish a pricing mechanism for the collection, transportation, and treatment of domestic waste.

The ministry is also reviewing standards for environmental quality, waste, and products, applying them to high-risk pollution facilities to ensure the use of the best available technology. Vietnamese standards will be developed in harmony with regional and international ones, especially in the areas of waste recycling and reuse and eco-friendly products. This will help businesses improve their scientific and technological capabilities, keep up with global trends, and meet market demands.

Current Challenges and Limitations to Overcome

Experts emphasized the need to balance economic, social, and environmental aspects. Experts from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the World Bank have pointed out several limitations and challenges that need to be addressed:

• Gaps in new fields: Some important areas, such as greenhouse gas emissions, the circular economy, and carbon credits, still lack comprehensive regulations. A World Bank report indicates that the absence of a clear legal framework in these areas could hinder green investment projects and reduce the effectiveness of climate change mitigation policies.
• Overly strict targets: Some technical targets are considered too high for current conditions, making it difficult for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to comply and enhance their competitiveness.
• Lack of synchronicity and overlap: Experts from the Ministry of Science and Technology pointed out the need to review and synchronize the national standard system to avoid overlaps between the Law on Technical Standards and Regulations and the Law on Environmental Protection.

Solutions and Future Directions

To address these challenges, experts have proposed several key solutions:

• Supplement and improve regulations: It is urgent to develop missing regulations for new fields, especially those related to climate change, emission reduction, and the circular economy.
• Widespread consultation: Broadening consultations with businesses and industry associations will help create regulations that are more realistic and feasible.
• Balance all aspects: Standards should not be set too high to avoid impacting compliance costs and business competitiveness, but they must still ensure the goals of protecting the environment and public health.
• Harmonize with international standards: Developing Vietnamese standards in harmony with international sets of standards like ISO, IEC, and EN will help businesses improve their capabilities and meet trade commitments, especially those related to Net Zero goals.
• Apply technology: Increase the application of digital transformation, build a national environmental database, and use AI and Big Data for analysis and early warning of environmental risks.

According to a representative from the Ministry of Science and Technology, to ensure feasibility and effective management, it is necessary to urgently review and synchronize the national standard system to avoid overlaps between the Law on Technical Standards and Regulations, the Law on Environmental Protection, and other related laws. They also recommended developing a synchronized national quality infrastructure with internationally compatible capacities for environmental testing, assessment, and monitoring, with a clear roadmap for integration.

Improving the system of environmental technical regulations and standards is a strategic move that will not only help Vietnam control pollution effectively but also open up significant opportunities for Vietnamese goods to access demanding markets, contributing to the country’s sustainable development in an era of deeper international integration.

According to Vneconomy.com