Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Trần Hồng Hà. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Trần Hồng Hà affirmed that Việt Nam chooses the sustainable and active approach to development in the direction of a green and circular economy while addressing the fourth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific yesterday.

The Vietnamese official said that the forum, along with the 5th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) and other events such as the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15), is taking place in the context when the earth is facing the most serious ever challenges due to the climate change and the COVID-19 crisis.

This is the result of an unsustainable growth model of humankind, which is affecting all countries and nations.

Minister Hà said it’s time to put the recovery of the nature and ecologies at the top place in political, diplomatic and economic agendas, considering it as the criterion and moral standard in the behaviour towards the nature from highest leaders to all people at grassroots level.

Việt Nam defines that sustainable development should be based on the foundation of balanced natural ecosystems and the respect for the rules of nature, he stressed.

Minister Hà called on all countries to reach consensus in mindset and perspectives on issues related to the climate change crisis and ecosystem collapse.

Along with policy tools and laws on the environment, issues related to climate change and natural resources management and environmental protection should be made indispensable and decisive criteria in economic policies.

Jointly held by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the fourth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific included a high-level dialogue on strengthening actions for nature to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific, and discussions on reports from senior officials of countries.

At the forum, the ministers and authorities gave opinions on a draft report of the Senior Officials Meeting of the Fourth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific as well as a draft document on outcomes of the Ministerial Segment of the forum regarding policy viewpoints and commitments following the 5th United Nations Environment Assembly theme of “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific”. — VNS