On March 20, 2024, the Vietnam Water Resources Conservation Network (VIWACON) - the coordinating agency is the Center for Environment and Community Research (CECR) in collaboration with the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE) organized the "Discussion: Mobilizing meaningful participation in implementing Circular Economy and restoring dead rivers" at the Trade Union Hotel, 14 Tran Binh Trong Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. 

The discussion was attended by Mr. Truong Manh Tien - Chairman of VIWACON; Mr. Nguyen Trung Thang - Deputy Director of ISPONRE, Mr. Nguyen Khac Hung - Director of CECR and the network's founding members, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Ly - Founder of CECR/Former Head of Sustainable Development Department at UNDP Vietnam, Mr. Dao Trong Tu - Chairman of Vietnam Rivers Network/Director of CEWAREC, Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Huong - Dean, School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Hanoi University of Science and Technology; Ms. Bui Thi Thanh Thuy - Director of C&E, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan - Deputy Director of WARECOD and the participation of 30 guests and delegates who participated and discussed in the discussion. 

Mr. Truong Manh Tien – President of VIWACON    Mr. Nguyen Trung Thang – Deputy Director of ISPONRE

   Mr. Nguyen Khac Hung - Director of CECR            Mrs. Nguyen Ngoc Ly - Founder of CECR

In his opening speech, Mr. Truong Manh Tien shared: “In the period from 2021 to present, the Vietnam Water Conservation Network (VIWACON) has coordinated with localities to develop and deploy a number of models applying the circular economy approach to domestic waste management, classifying and collecting resource waste, testing water reuse and circular water use models. The VIWACON network has continuously coordinated with relevant parties to implement research and experimental activities contributing to the transition to the Circular Economy in Vietnam. Today's discussion aims to create a forum to help VIWACON experts and scientists gain a deeper understanding of the Circular Economy Plan, on that basis, discuss together, identify priority areas in research and testing, and identify the role of scientific and technical organizations and NGOs to support the implementation of the National Circular Economy Action Plan.” 

Mr. Nguyen Trung Thang shared: “Since being assigned as the focal agency to propose regulations on circular economy in Decree 08/2022/ND-CP and when developing the National Action Plan for Circular Economy implementation, the Institute has always identified water as an important aspect, the “heart” of the circular economy. To promote the implementation of circular economy in Vietnam in general, in the water sector in particular, requires the participation of all relevant organizations and individuals. However, in the context of limited awareness, asynchronous resources, institutions, and laws; limited science and technology, technical infrastructure... it is necessary to continue discussing and analyzing to find specific, focused, and effective actions to encourage the whole society to apply circular economy in the field of water resources in particular, in production and business in general.” 

Opening the main content of the Seminar, Mr. Lai Van Manh - Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Economics, ISPONRE gave a presentation on "Introduction to the draft National Action Plan on Circular Economy in Vietnam. Participation of all parties implementing the National Action Plan on Circular Economy". The shift from a linear economy to a circular economy is an inevitable global trend. The Law on Environmental Protection passed by the National Assembly on November 17, 2020, Article 142, defines "Circular economy is an economic model in which design, production, consumption and service activities aim to reduce the exploitation of raw materials and materials, extend the product life cycle, limit waste generation and minimize negative impacts on the environment". Implementing the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and Decree 08/2022/ND-CP, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) has recently taken the lead in developing a draft National Action Plan (NAP) on circular economy (CI). The draft NAP on CI has been and is being consulted with ministries, sectors, localities as well as other relevant parties. This plan is an important foundation for the roadmap for effective implementation of the circular economy, encouraging the participation and cooperation of the whole society.  

                                                      Snapshots of roundtable discussion

Moving on to the roundtable discussion, speakers and experts from the Vietnam Water Conservation Network and guests shared and discussed “Gaps and challenges in mobilizing the participation of all parties and society in implementing the circular economy” in session 1 and “Identifying priority areas in research and testing to transform the Linear Economy to the Circular Economy” in session 2. The discussion deeply demonstrated that the Circular Economy can only be implemented if the whole community JOINS HANDS, changing from awareness to behavior. This is a process that requires a synchronous reform system from support policies, technology, finance and capacity to operate the economy in a completely new way.