Khanh Hoa pioneering in green transformation

In Khanh Hoa, green transformation has never been mentioned so much. It seems that the desire to be immersed in nature, in the cool sea and sky has become a great motivation for the people and the government of the province to accelerate the green transformation process.

A green corner in Nha Trang City.

Green from awareness

With its position as the tourism center of the whole country, Khanh Hoa is almost at the forefront of green transformation. Provincial leaders have determined that green transformation and green development will create a foundation for sustainable socio-economic development for the locality. Entering the implementation of Resolution No. 09 of the Politburo on building and developing Khanh Hoa province to 2030, with a vision to 2045, the entire political system of the province has quickly identified the necessity of green transformation and green development. Green transformation has become an inevitable requirement for the development of Khanh Hoa province. Along with economic development and improving the quality of life of the people, the action of changing lifestyles to help reduce climate change and protect the environment also raises many issues that need attention, requiring the province to have fundamental, synchronous, long-term solutions to create sustainable development in harmony with nature. With the strength of services and tourism, the province aims to take green transformation and green development as a driving force for sustainable development, creating a consistent direction in the future.

Nha Trang City signs a cooperation agreement with VinUni University on green transformation.

During many visits to Khanh Hoa, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien - former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics shared: "Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa is a place with the beauty of the sea, islands, and mountains that is not inferior to anywhere else in the world. The people are gentle, simple, hospitable, and especially the awareness of environmental protection of the people is increasingly raised. Therefore, if Khanh Hoa takes the lead in green transformation, it will be very favorable".

Discussing and giving advice at a workshop on green transformation of Nha Trang.

As expected by many people, as soon as the province chose green transformation as an inevitable development direction, from the people to businesses, they responded strongly. From small stories about local people turning waste into organic fertilizer, forms of farming that do not use chemicals or hotel owners determined to build a green space, friendly to the environment, all evoke strong changes in consciousness. Green transformation is happening every day and starts with the smallest things that are beneficial to the environment. Nguyen Quang Duy - Vice President of Khanh Hoa Young Entrepreneurs Association said: “Green living is becoming a new standard, a trend chosen by everyone, increasingly popular in modern lifestyles, widely spread in the community. People's awareness is increasingly raised, reflected in behavior, lifestyle, perception, habits of environmental protection, energy saving, electricity saving, household waste management... with many meaningful models and jobs that have a great influence in the community. The business communities in the province themselves have been promoting circular economy, green economy in production activities, this is considered an important criterion to compete for export goods".

Resolute implementation

Since the end of 2023, the province has taken a series of practical actions towards green transformation. Specifically, the province has continuously held scientific seminars with many domestic and international experts to discuss and find directions for green transformation and green development of Khanh Hoa and Nha Trang City. The province has signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with VinUni in the following areas: Scientific research, technology and innovation; improving the quality of human resources; implementing activities to promote green transformation and green growth on the basis of science and technology; coordinating the implementation of research, training, coaching events and activities on green transformation and green growth; researching, developing and implementing the Green Transformation Project of Khanh Hoa province for the period 2024 - 2030.

Green tourism models such as Six Senses Ninh Van Bay are encouraged to develop

Green tourism models such as Six Senses Ninh Van Bay are being encouraged to develop. Notably, within just 6 months, the Provincial People's Committee has approved 2 projects "Green transformation, green growth of Nha Trang City in the period of 2024 - 2030" and "Green transformation of Khanh Hoa province in the period of 2024 - 2030". Nguyen Tan Tuan - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed that in the context of increasingly serious climate change and environmental crisis, green transformation and green growth have become an inevitable and necessary trend for all countries in the world. This is an irreversible trend in the 21st century. The project "Green transformation of Khanh Hoa province in the period of 2024 - 2030" is built with the goal of turning Khanh Hoa into a smart, sustainable, unique urban area, on par with the Asian region; one of the coastal cities that attracts tourists and has the leading livable environment in the continent with a synchronous and modern infrastructure system, economic - social activities and government administration operating mainly in the form of a digital economy, digital society, manufacturing and service industries developing in a smart way and green economic and circular economic models. In addition, social aspects develop harmoniously, the environment and natural landscape are preserved, especially the marine and coastal environment. Khanh Hoa will be the leading locality in implementing the goal of bringing greenhouse gas emissions to zero in Vietnam by 2050. The project will focus on green industry, green agriculture, green tourism, green infrastructure, green transportation, green lifestyle and green brand.

Electric buses in Nha Trang to aim for green transportation.

With the green transformation plan, Khanh Hoa aims to green economic sectors, apply a circular economic model through the exploitation and economical and efficient use of natural resources and energy based on science and technology, apply digital technology and digital transformation, develop sustainable infrastructure to improve growth quality, promote competitive advantages and minimize negative impacts on the environment; at the same time, promote green lifestyles and promote sustainable consumption. By 2030, the rate of clean water and hygienic water use of urban and rural residents will reach 100%; the rate of domestic solid waste collected will be 100% and treated at sanitary landfills or incineration plants and waste processing plants will be 90%. Within the next 6 years, 100% of buses will be replaced and newly invested in using electricity and green energy; the rate of green public procurement in total public procurement will reach at least 35%. Khanh Hoa will also study and implement a master plan on green urban development towards sustainable smart cities.

In particular, for the tourism sector, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a plan for green and sustainable tourism development by 2030. The goal is that by 2030, 80% of tourist destinations and tourism businesses in the province will be labeled green; 80% of tourism businesses generating wastewater of 10m3/day or more will have wastewater treatment facilities, equipment, and systems that meet environmental technical standards; 80% of tourism businesses will commit to not using disposable plastic products and hard-to-decompose nylon bags; 95% of tourism businesses will invest in and use renewable energy; 4 tourist routes will connect green tourism areas and destinations throughout the province; 4 green tourism products will be put into operation at each tourist area and destination.

Now, Khanh Hoa is on the journey to build a green future. The road ahead will be full of hardships, but with the determination of the whole community, the dream of a green Khanh Hoa will soon become a reality. Khanh Hoa is gradually affirming itself as a bright spot of Vietnam in the green transformation.

DINH LAM

Translated by T.T