Law on environmental protection to be revised for sustainable development in Vietnam

Abstract

Law on Environmental Protection 2014 of Vietnam was passed by the 13 National Assembly at the 7th session on June 23, 2014, effectived from January 1, 2015. The enactment of the Law on Environmental Protection 2014 has greatly contributed to the success of environmental protection in recent years. However,the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection 2014 revealed limitations and shortcomings, including: Some provisions of the law on environmental protection are still inappropriate, not reality, lack of legal provisons for Environmental disasters, not keeping up with the requirements of practical development and international integration; mechanisms and policies on environmental protection are slow to innovate, not yet synchronized with the market economy institution; contents, responsibilities, assignment and decentralization of state management of environmental protection are still fragmented, overlapping and unreasonable, not suitable with capacity building and responsibilities; lack of appropriate mechanisms to promote the effective participation of society, enterprises and people in environmental protection. Based on Law on Environmental Protection 2014, the state management apparatus on environment is not commensurate with the assigned functions and tasks and unable to solve effectively inter-sectoral, inter-regional and transnational issues; violations of the law on environmental protection are still complicated and invalid; The administrative procedures are both insufficient, overlapping; Vietnam has not legal provisions to resolve some new issues arising on environmental protection such as: climate changes, metal pollution heavy (Cu, Zn, Cd), saline intrusion, dust pollution…This article focuses on the challenges of environment in Vietnam. It also provides causes and suggestion for Law on Environmental Protection 2014 to be revised for sustainable development in Vietnam.