The National Assembly (NA), during its ongoing sitting, on December 1 focused discussions on the draft amendment of the Geology and Mineral Law, with a highlight on emission reduction.
NA Deputy Nguyen Hoang Bao Tran from Ho Chi Minh City emphasized reduction of mineral exploitation that pose environmental risks and proposed for accelerating the rate of alternative materials.
While there is a consensus on the necessity to comprehensively amend the current law for better and more transparent management, the draft still leans towards improving mechanisms for continued exploitation without a dedicated section on comprehensive impact assessment, gradual reduction plans, and a roadmap for developing alternative materials to fulfill international environmental commitments, particularly the NetZero target by 2050.
Mr. Tran noted that the draft lacks a clear roadmap to reduce dependency on non-renewable mineral resources.
The draft currently focuses on increasing exploitation efficiency without adequately addressing the need to reduce exploitation demand. In contrast, advanced countries are moving towards reducing exploitation, increasing recycling, and developing alternative materials.
Vietnam has made strong environmental commitments, but the draft does not fully reflect these commitments. At COP26, Vietnam declared its goal of achieving NetZero emissions by 2050. To achieve this, mineral resource policies must shift in three directions: reducing resource intensity in economic development, promoting circular economy through recycling and reuse, and conserving strategic resources for future generations.
However, these policy groups are not clearly represented in the draft law, and there is no major goal for sustainable exploitation towards NetZero.
Therefore, Mr. Tran proposed the inclusion of a chapter on impact mitigation, resource recovery, and alternative material development.
For businesses, a minimum recycling rate should be mandatory in large projects.
Based on these analyses, Deputy Tran proposed five specific adjustments. Firstly, to add a principle of reducing exploitation towards NetZero, including reducing the intensity of environmentally risky mineral exploitation, prioritizing alternative materials, and gradually transitioning to a circular economy.
Secondly, to amend the licensing provision to require mandatory impact assessments, cumulative assessments, geological and hydrological risk assessments, and long-term environmental restoration commitments according to international standards.
Thirdly, to define sensitive geological areas, with a government-published list, and prohibit exploitation in any form.
Fourthly, to establish post-exploitation restoration responsibilities, requiring businesses to restore topography, reforest, and recreate landscapes, with non-compliance resulting in denial of future project licenses.
Fifthly, to add provisions for policies encouraging alternative materials, tax incentives for green material research, prioritizing recycled materials in public investment, and supporting businesses in transitioning production lines.
Google translate