All countries in the world should unite and act responsibly to build a green world for future generations, says National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân.

Speaking during a discussion on “Safeguarding a Healthy Planet” at the 11th Global Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament that opened in the United Arab Emirates capital city of Abu Dhabi on Monday, she said industrial revolutions had severely harmed the environment while boosting growth.

Depleting natural resources, climate change and environmental pollution had become serious problems, along with increasingly extreme weather phenomena, destroying the earth’s biodiversity, she said.

Ngân lauded efforts made by many countries in tackling environmental pollution as well as responding to climate change, especially the Paris Agreement on Climate change in 2015.

The agreement provided a legal framework for climate change responses, she said.

"The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to the environment in Development Agenda 2030 are also expected to open a new era of growth, including the development of low-carbon emission and environmental-friendly production models with minimised use of fossil fuels and increased use of green energy," Ngan said.

Noting that Việt Nam was among countries hardest hit by climate change and rising sea levels, she said that the country had ratified the Paris Agreement on November 3, 2016, before it takes effect.

With the support of international community, Việt Nam was launching a national strategy to respond to climate change and another on boosting green growth, the NA Chair said.

She said the Vietnamese parliament had adopted Laws on Environment, Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, and Economical, Effective Use of Energy.

She also underscored the role of women in socio-economic development and environmental protection in all countries.

Ngân proposed a number of measures to enhance the role of women, especially women parliamentarians, in uniting for a green world, including the completion of a legal framework and ensuring provision of adequate resources to implement policies related to environmental protection and climate change responses.

Legislative bodies in each country should integrate the SDGs into their socio-economic policies with a priority on gender equality, sustainable livelihoods and environmental protection, she said.

She stressed the need to strengthen communications and training for women to mitigate the impact of climate change and natural disasters as well as the importance of international partnerships, experience-sharing and technical and financial support for projects to promote low-carbon economies, mitigate climate change impacts and promote gender equality.

The NA leader recommended that participants review the implementation of initiatives each year.

The female parliament leaders discussed ways to raise public awareness of policies on environmental protection and the sustainable use of water and forest resources.

Ngân said the Vietnamese parliament had paid a lot of attention to making the country’s legal system compatible with its commitments, prioritising budget allocation for climate change responses and supervising the Government to ensure that commitments made by Việt Nam are effective.

Việt Nam was taking measures in line with the Hà Nội Declaration issued at the 132nd International Parliament Union’s Assembly in 2015, which showcased the members’ commitment to implementing the UN’s SDGs, Ngân said. VNS

Source:
courtesy of VIET NAM NEWS

by Viet Nam News

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